Evaluating deployment strategies for spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) traps

Authors: NIXON, LAURA - Orise Fellow; BARNES, CAITLIN - Orise Fellow; DEECHER, ELIZABETH - Pennsylvania State University; MADALINSKA, KATARZYNA - Rutgers Agriculture Research & Extension Center; NIELSEN, ANNE - Rutgers Agriculture Research & Extension Center; URBAN, JULIE - Pennsylvania State University; Leskey, Tracy

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/6/2023
Publication Date: 3/6/2023
Citation: Nixon, L.J., Barnes, C., Deecher, E., Madalinska, K., Nielsen, A., Urban, J., Leskey, T.C. 2023. Evaluating deployment strategies for spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) traps. Journal of Economic Entomology. 116(2):426-434. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toad038.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toad038

Interpretive Summary: Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive insect originating in Asia that has established populations in 13 states within the United States. This planthopper feeds on the sap of host plants, which can cause a decline in plant health. Previous studies have shown that circle trunk traps with large jar tops affixed to the top effectively capture SLF and can be used as a monitoring trap in areas with medium and high populations. Here, we found that these modified circle traps are also effective at low populations. We evaluated the best protocol for deploying and checking these traps, and found that traps should be affixed to the tree trunk one meter from the ground, checked every one to two weeks, and can be placed on common host trees, with highest SLF numbers being captured on tree of heaven.

Technical Abstract: The spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White), is an invasive planthopper (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) that was first detected in the United States in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014 and has since spread to 13 states in the Eastern United States. This phloem-feeding pest has a broad host range, including economically important crops such as Vitis spp. Monitoring presence and relative abundance of L. delicatula is of utmost importance to develop pest management tools. Here, we compared deployment strategies to optimize use of L. delicatula monitoring traps. Standard circle traps, sticky bands, and circle traps with replaceable bag tops were deployed at sites with known high or low populations present. Trap deployment at different heights and on different host tree species and trap sampling intervals were evaluated for standard circle traps only. Circle traps captured significantly more L. delicatula adults at low density sites compared with other trap types in 2021 only, and no differences were detected at high density sights. Traps deployed one meter from the ground captured significantly more adults than those deployed at 0.5 meters; no differences were detected for nymphs. While no significant differences in trap captures were found among intervals, weekly or biweekly sampling prevented specimen degradation. Although traps deployed on A. altissima captured significantly or numerically more L. delicatula at most sites, traps deployed on other hosts also consistently yielded captures. We were also able to alter the construction of circle trap skirts to allow for deployment on different sized tree trunks.