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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 #403968
Research Project: Integrated Production and Automation Systems for Temperate Fruit Crops

Location: Innovative Fruit Production, Improvement, and Protection

Title: Assessing acceptability of wild and cultivated hosts of Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) under semifield conditions

Author
item NIXON, LAURA - Orise Fellow
item BARNES, CAITLIN - Orise Fellow
item Leskey, Tracy

Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/25/2023
Publication Date: 8/2/2023
Citation: Nixon, L.J., Barnes, C., Leskey, T.C. 2023. Assessing acceptability of wild and cultivated hosts of Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) under semifield conditions. Environmental Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvad078.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvad078

Interpretive Summary: Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive insect originating in Asia that has established populations in the United States. This insect is a phloem feeder with a broad host plant range, including the invasive tree of heaven, as well as important cultivated and native plants such as grapevine and black walnut. Here, we established that, in a field setting, tree of heaven is acceptable throughout SLF’s feeding life stages; early nymphs and adults also show a preference for Riesling grapevine and late nymphs show a preference for black walnut. Apple and peach trees were not preferred hosts for any life stage.

Technical Abstract: Lycorma delicatula White (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) is an invasive phloem feeder with a broad host range that includes both hardwood trees and cultivated temperate fruit crops. Here, we evaluated acceptability of wild hosts, A. altissima and Juglans nigra L. (Fagales: Juglandaceae) and cultivated hosts Vitis vinifera, Malus domestica (Rosales: Rosaceae), and Prunus persica L. Batsch (Rosales: Rosaceae) to L. delicatula under field conditions. Fluorescent-marked early instar nymphs, late instar nymphs, or adult L. delicatula were released at the base of single potted host plants and the number of individuals retained were recorded over 24 hours. Paired choice trials with A. altissima and another host plant also were conducted. The number of individuals retained on or moving between plants were recorded over 24 hours. Sentinel A. altissima, J. nigra, V. vinifera, M. domestica, and P. persica potted plants were deployed at five sites and the number of L. delicatula present on each plant was recorded weekly. In single and paired host trials, early instars and adults were generally retained in higher numbers on A. altissima and V. vinifera, and late instars were retained on A. altissima and J. nigra. Significantly more L. delicatula were present on sentinel A. altissima compared with other host plants, except J. nigra during the period when late instars were the most prevalent lifestage in the field. These results indicate that wild hosts, such as A. altissima and J. nigra, are likely supporting establishment of L. delicatula populations and that presence of cultivated V. vinifera may contribute to population establishment and growth.