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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 #375254
Research Project: Integrated Orchard Management and Automation for Deciduous Tree Fruit Crops (BRIDGE PROJECT)

Location: Innovative Fruit Production, Improvement, and Protection

Title: Horizontal and vertical dispersal capacity and effects of fluorescent marking on Lycorma delicatula nymphs and adults

Author
item NIXON, LAURA - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item Ludwick, Dalton
item Leskey, Tracy

Submitted to: Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/26/2020
Publication Date: 11/27/2020
Citation: Nixon, L.J., Ludwick, D.C., Leskey, T.C. 2020. Horizontal and vertical dispersal capacity and effects of fluorescent marking on Lycorma delicatula nymphs and adults. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 169:219-226. https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13002.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13002

Interpretive Summary: Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive insect originating in Asia that has been detected in six states of the mid-Atlantic United States including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia. This planthopper feeds on the sap of host plants, including grapes, fruit and hardwood trees, causing a decline in plant health. This insect has one generation per year, with four nymphal stages and adults emerging in late summer. We measured the baseline climbing and jumping capacity of these mobile lifestages and found that nymphs climb significantly longer distances than adults; whereas, adults jump significantly further than nymphs. We coated nymphs and adults with fluorescent powders, a well-utilized insect marking technique, and found the powders had no effects on the movement or survivorship of SLF. Fluorescent marked nymphs were released onto potted host plants, and we were able to recover those insects 24 hours later, showing this is a valid marking technique for monitoring SLF dispersal and retention.

Technical Abstract: The invasive spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, is a destructive phloem feeder with a broad host range that appears to narrow as they reach the adult stage. Little is known about how this invasive insect disperses among host plants or how far they may move to reach them. Here, we measured vertical climbing and horizontal jumping capacity, and evaluated the effect of fluorescent marking powders on mobility and survivorship of L. delicatula nymphs and adults. All nymphal instars climbed significantly longer vertical distances compared with adults, while early adults (pre-oviposition period) jumped longer horizontal distances compared with nymphs or late adults (oviposition period) based on single jump measurements. Marking nymphs and adults with fluorescent powder had no significant effect on vertical or horizontal movement, and did not affect the survivorship of nymphs or adults. Our results indicate that L. delicatula nymphs can easily move among host plants, and marking L. delicatula nymphs and adults with florescent powder serves as an acceptable means to measure their dispersal in the environment.