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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Kearneysville, West Virginia » Appalachian Fruit Research Laboratory » Innovative Fruit Production, Improvement, and Protection » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #399520
Research Project: Integrated Production and Automation Systems for Temperate Fruit Crops

Location: Innovative Fruit Production, Improvement, and Protection

Title: Evaluating materials to serve as removable oviposition substrates for Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) under field conditions

Author
item NIXON, LAURA - Orise Fellow
item BARNES, CAITLIN - Orise Fellow
item Rugh, Anthony
item Hott, Chris - Chris
item Carper, Garland - Lee
item Cullum, John
item JONES, SHARON - Retired ARS Employee
item LUDWICK, DALTON - Texas A&M Agrilife
item SCORZA, CAMERON - Former ARS Employee
item Leskey, Tracy

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/14/2023
Publication Date: 6/22/2023
Citation: Nixon, L.J., Barnes, C., Rugh, A.D., Hott, C.F., Carper Jr, G.L., Cullum, J.P., Jones, S., Ludwick, D., Scorza, C., Leskey, T.C. 2023. Evaluating materials to serve as removable oviposition substrates for Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) under field conditions. Florida Entomologist. 106(2):141-143. https://doi.org/10.1653/024.106.0213.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1653/024.106.0213

Interpretive Summary: Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive insect originating in Asia that has established populations in the USA. Adults of this insect lay eggs on solid surfaces, such as tree trunks, fence posts and cement blocks, in the fall and die once freezing weather sets in; it is these egg masses which survive the winter to hatch into nymphs in the spring. Egg masses can be collected and taken to labs for controlled research and rearing of biocontrol species. Here, we attached nine easily obtained materials to SLF host trees in the fall, removed them in the winter, and counted how many egg masses were laid on each. SLF were most likely to lay egg masses on roofing shingles; however, these must be carefully handled to not damage the egg masses.

Technical Abstract: Lycorma delicatula, spotted lanternfly, is an invasive planthopper now present in over a dozen states in the eastern USA. Developing protocols to rear L. delicatula has been a high priority for potential classical biological control programs and controlled experiments. Here, we evaluated nine different materials to serve as potential removable oviposition substrates to enable large numbers of egg masses to be collected in the field. We found that roofing shingles, roof caps and ash bark were all acceptable substrates for L. delicatula, but that care must be taken in handling to ensure egg masses are not damaged or dislodged.