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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Newark, Delaware » Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #424247
Research Project: Biology, Ecology, Genetics, and Genomics of Introduced Species for Biological Control of Invasive and Other Insect Pests

Location: Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit

Title: Behavioral responses of the egg parasitoid Anastatus orientalis (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) towards adult footprints and target and non-target hosts

Author
item Hagerty, Tyler
item Kaser, Joseph
item SCHRAMM, SPIRO - University Of Delaware
item BROADLEY, HANNAH - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item HOELMER, KIM - Collaborator
item BARTLET, CHARLES - University Of Delaware
item Wang, Xingeng

Submitted to: Biological Control
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/19/2026
Publication Date: 5/20/2026
Citation: Hagerty, T.J., Kaser, J.M., Schramm, S., Broadley, H., Hoelmer, K., Bartlet, C., Wang, X. 2026. Behavioral responses of the egg parasitoid Anastatus orientalis (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) towards adult footprints and target and non-target hosts. Biological Control. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2026.106058.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2026.106058

Interpretive Summary: The spotted lanternfly is a serious invasive agricultural pest that attacks grapes and other U.S. crops. We evaluated the response of one of its key natural enemies, a parasitic wasp called Anastatus orientalis. We examined how the wasp's response to chemical footprints left by the spotted lanternfly were different from its response to footprints left by native species. We founded that the wasp was much better at tracking the chemical footprints left by the spotted lanternfly pest, but not native species. This information will help us to better understand the risks and benefits of potentially releasing this natural enemy into the U.S. to improve pest management in agriculture.

Technical Abstract: The spotted lantern fly, Lycorma delicatula, is native to eastern Asia and is now an invasive insect and agricultural pest in the U.S. The Asian eggparasitoid Anastatus orinetalis is a potential biological control agent currently under study for the classical biological control of L. delicatula. The foraging behavior of this wasp was investigated in response to chemical traces - ‘footprints’ - deposited by its target L. delicatula and by potential non-target host species Poblicia fuliginosa and Halyomorpha halys. Motion tracking software (Ethovision) was employed to record and analyze the behavior of A orientalis on non-target or target host-marked and control substrates. Wasps exhibited a ‘motivated searching’ behavior (i.e. longer residence time, slower walking velocity, and coverage of greater distances) when in contact with footprints originating from females of the target pest compared to blank controls. However, this searching behavior was not significantly greater than toward controls when exposed to footprints of the non-target hosts. These results are discussed in the context of host preference and classical biological control.