Developmental morphology and reproductive potential of Dryinus sinicus (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae), a promising biological control agent for spotted lanternfly

Authors: Wang, Xingeng; Schramm, Spiro; Kaser, Joseph; BROADLEY, HANNAH - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); SIPOLSKI, STEVEN - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); LOSCH, CORRINE - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); Hoelmer, Kim

Submitted to: Biological Control
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/20/2026
Publication Date: 4/9/2026
Citation: Wang, X., Schramm, S., Kaser, J.M., Broadley, H.J., Sipolski, S., Losch, C., Hoelmer, K.A. 2026. Developmental morphology and reproductive potential of Dryinus sinicus (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae), a promising biological control agent for spotted lanternfly. Biological Control. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saag013.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saag013

Interpretive Summary: The spotted lanternfly (SLF) is a serious invasive agricultural pest that attacks grapes and other U.S. crops. We imported a key native natural enemy of this pest, a parasitic wasp that attacks immature nymphs of SLF, for evaluations of its suitability and potential for biological control of SLF in the US. As part of the systemic evaluations, this study reports for the first time some aspects of the general developmental morphology and reproductive biology of this key biological control agent as well as its host killing (via parasitism and predation) capacity. We found that this parasitic wasp is highly reproductive and a promising candidate biological control agent for SLF. The basic information provided by this study is critical for optimizing rearing and further study protocols as well as understanding underlying mechanisms of the reproductive biology of this important biological control agent.

Technical Abstract: Dryinus sinicus Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae) is a key nymphal parasitoid of the spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula White (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), within its native range in China. As part of evaluations of this candidate biological control agent for the invasive L. delicatula in the USA, this study evaluated some aspects of the immature developmental morphology and reproductive potential of this parasitoid. Adult D. sinicus exhibits sexual dimorphism, with female’s protarsus bearing a chela. Its larva is ectoparasitic, with the head partly immersed in the coelom of the host and the rest of the body protruding between two of the host’s sclerites, covered partially by the larval exuviae (thylacium). The larva develops through five instars and then crawls out to pupate in a silk cocoon killing its host. Dryinus sinicus is highly synovigenic with an estimated ovigeny index of 0.0843. Female wasps emerged with about 15.9 ± 2.2 mature oocytes and were ready for oviposition. At 20 °C, adult females lived 61.3 ± 9.9 days (range = 3–147), parasitized 137.2 ± 34.9 nymphs (range = 0–488), laid 175.8 ± 46.1 eggs (range = 0–623), and host-fed upon 20.8 ± 3.8 nymphs (range = 1–59) during their lifetime. Self-superparasitism occurred frequently in the laboratory setting and more than one offspring could develop in some cases. The lifetime fecundity or predation of D. sinicus was positively related to longevity. Host feeding and oviposition appeared to prompt egg production. In the laboratory setting, it more effectively parasitized and host-fed the 1st rather than 2nd instars on potted plants of Ailanthus altissima and killed about 7 times more nymphs by parasitism than by host feeding. Overall, D. sinicus is a highly fecund parasitoid and a promising candidate biological control agent for L. delicatula.