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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 #420388
Research Project: Integrated Production and Automation Systems for Temperate Fruit Crops

Location: Innovative Fruit Production, Improvement, and Protection

Title: Potential for plant-derived semiochemicals to repel spotted lanternfly (Hemiptera:Fulgoridae) from host plants

Author
item RUETHER, BRIAN - Virginia Tech
item NIXON, LAURA - Rutgers University
item COMHAIRE, LANDER - Edward Via College Of Osteopathic Medicine
item GERARD, CHRISTIAN - Maryland Department Of Natural Resources
item NIELSEN, ANNE - Rutgers University
item Leskey, Tracy
item THOLL, DOROTHEA - Virginia Tech

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/30/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive planthopper that is spreading across the Eastern US. Feeding by this insect can reduce yield and increase stress on grapevines and particularly, Vitis vinifera. A tactic aimed at reducing insecticide sprays against SLF in grapevines is through the use of repellents. Here, we evaluated two promising repellents, CNR-1 (a proprietary blend) and lavender oil, in semi-field mark-release-recapture studies. These materials were then formulated into a sticky matrix known as splat and evaluated in grapevines for their level of SLF repellency. Both materials showed promise in the small-scale field trials, providing another management tool for this challenging, invasive pest.

Technical Abstract: Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula White [Hemiptera: Fulgoridae]) is a large piercing-sucking insect, native to Asia and invasive in the United States. Since its arrival in Pennsylvania in 2014, L. delicatula has spread to 19 additional states and damaged a variety of ornamental plants, trees, and fruit crops: most notably, grapevines. L. delicatula has already damaged viticulture in its invaded area and threatens to harm viticultural hubs on the western coast of the United States. While classical insecticides are effective, the ability to repel L. delicatula from vineyards is of greater importance to prevent initial infestations. Volatile plant specialized metabolites are used to repel arthropods in many agricultural contexts and may be used to repel L. delicatula as well. By utilizing mark-release-recapture studies under semi-field conditions in 2021 and 2022, we identified lavender essential oil and CNR-1 semiochemical blend as two potential repellents to L. delicatula adults in the context of grapevines. We further evaluated the response of adult L. delicatula to lavender oil and CNR-1 SPLAT-based applications in highly infested vineyards during September 2022. Lavender oil repelled L. delicatula in early September, while CNR-1 repelled L. delicatula in late September. We also observed L. delicatula adults shift their preference from Vitis vinifera ‘Syrah’ in early September to Vitis hybrid ‘Traminette’ in late September, which may be attributed to cultivar preference and difference in senescence. Here, we provide evidence that volatile plant-derived semiochemicals could serve as an additional management tactic alongside other strategies for dealing with L. delicatula vineyard pressure.