Development of rearing methodology for the invasive Spotted Lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae)

• Published in: Frontiers in insect science Vol. 2; p. 1025193
• Main Authors: Nixon, Laura J, Jones, Sharon, Dechaine, Andrew C, Ludwick, Dalton, Hickin, Mauri, Sullivan, Liam, Elsensohn, Johanna E, Gould, Juli, Keena, Melody, Kuhar, Thomas, Pfeiffer, Douglas G, Leskey, Tracy C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 21.09.2022
• Subjects: Insect Science; phloem-feeding; rearing; Ailanthus altissima; colony; Lycorma delicatula
• ISSN: 2673-8600; 2673-8600
• DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2022.1025193

, White (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), spotted lanternfly, is a univoltine, phloem-feeding, polyphagous and invasive insect in the USA. Although a primary host for this species is , tree of heaven, also feeds on a wide range of hosts important to the USA including cultivated grapevines. Due to the need for classical or augmentative biological control programs to reduce impacts of across invaded areas, we developed a laboratory-based rearing protocol for this invasive species. Here, we evaluated the use of apical meristems, epicormic shoots, and fresh foliage cut from as a food source for rearing newly hatched . On these sources of plant material <20% of developed into adults and no oviposition occurred. However, when young, potted trees were used as a food source, >50% of nymphs developed to the adult stage under natural daylengths and temperatures ranging from 20-25°C. The addition of wild grapevine, , did not increase survivorship or reduce development time. To elicit mating and oviposition, adults were provided with logs as an oviposition substrate and maintained under shortened daylengths and reduced nighttime temperatures (12L:12D and 24°C:13°C). This resulted in 2.12 egg masses deposited per female, which was 4× more than when adults were maintained in standard rearing conditions (16L:8D and 25°C). Based on these experiments, we present a protocol for reliably rearing under laboratory and/or greenhouse conditions.