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Spotted lanternfly

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Spotted lanternfly
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Auchenorrhyncha
Infraorder: Fulgoromorpha
Family: Fulgoridae
Subfamily: Aphaeninae
Tribe: Aphaenini
Genus: Lycorma
Species:
L. delicatula
Binomial name
Lycorma delicatula
(White, 1845)

The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a planthopper that is indigenous to China, India, and Vietnam. Although it has two pairs of wings, it jumps more than it flies. Its host plants are grapes, pines, stone fruits, and Malus species. In its native habitat it is kept in check by natural predators or pathogens. It was accidentally introduced in Korea in 2006 and has since been considered a pest. In September 2014, it was first recorded in the United States, [1] and it is now an invasive species in eastern Pennsylvania and southwestern New Jersey.

Description

The spotted lanternfly is originally native to parts of China, India, Vietnam, and eastern Asia.[2] It is a one-inch-long and half-inch wide planthopper belonging to the family of the fulgorid insects. The lantern analogy stems from the inflated front portion of the head, which was thought to be luminous.[3] It was first described by Adam White in 1845 as Aphaena delicatula with habitat outside of Nankin, China.[4] Adult lantern flies have a black head and grayish wings adorned with the name-giving black spots, and their bodies seem to glow red. Their wing tips have a pattern that looks as if they are covered with tiny black bricks with grey mortar in between. In flight, the spotted lantern fly displays red hind wings with black spots on the proximal third, a white wedge in the middle of the wing, and a solid black wing tip. The abdomen is yellowish with black and white bands on the top and bottom.[5] The lanternfly is a strong jumper; it hops from location to location more than it flies.[6] In Chinese medicine, the spotted lanternfly is considered to be poisonous, and is used topically for relief from swelling.[3] It feeds on woody plants and nonwoody plants, piercing the phloem tissue of foliage and young stems with its specialized mouthparts, and sucking the sap.[3] The sugary fluid leaks and coats leaves and stems, and this can encourage mold growth.[2] It does not eat the fruit or the leaves per se.[6] The lantern fly has a wide host range. Innumerable host plants are known, including grapes, pines, the Rosaceae with stone fruits, and apple species.[3]

Lifecycle

Young spotted lanternflies on Vitis labrusca in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States in early July
Young spotted lanternflies on Vitis labrusca in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in late July

Beginning in late April to early May, nymphs hatch from their egg cases. A nymph passes through several immature stages. In the first stage it is wingless and looks black with white spots. It then grows red patches in addition to the white spots. Next, it has red wing pads and a red upper body, before assuming the adult look of black head and grayish wings with black spots.[3] Nymphs cannot fly, so they hop or crawl to search for plants to feed on.[5] Young nymphs appear to have a wider host range early on, which narrows as they grow older.[3] As early as July, adults can be seen. In the fall, adults mate and lay eggs from late September through the onset of winter. In their native Indomalayan habitat they will lay their eggs preferably on the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), which is an introduced invasive tree with toxic metabolites. This host choice is thought to have evolved as mechanism of protection from natural enemies.[3] The lanternfly will lay eggs upon any smooth trunked tree, stone or vertical smooth surface, including man made items like vehicles, campers, yard furniture, farm equipment or other items stored outside.[5] The egg masses contain 30–50 eggs,[7] covered in a yellowish brown waxy deposit, the egg case.[3] The lanternfly's life expectancy, is one year.[3].

The minimum temperature that will kill eggs was estimated by South Korean researchers to be between −3.4 and −12.7°C (25.9 and 9.1°F) on the basis of mean daily temperatures during their winter of 2009/2010.[8] This estimate contrasts with eggs having survived the much colder winter 2013/14 temperatures in Pennsylvania, United States.[9]

Host plant signs of infestation

Trees can develop weeping wounds of sap on their trunks. Heavy infestations can cause honeydew secretions to build up at the base of the tree, blackening the soil with fungal mats around the base of the tree. The sap may attract ants, bees, hornets, and wasps to feed on it.[5] The plant may be stunted or even die.[3]

Accidental introduction

In South Korea

In 2006, the spotted lanternfly was accidentally introduced in Korea, and has been considered a pest since about 2007, as it expanded its host range, attacking at least 65 plant species, uninhibited by a natural enemy.[6]

In the United States

The spotted lanternfly was first detected in the United States in Berks County, northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On 22 September 2014, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Game Commission confirmed its presence. Based on its host affinities, it presented a threat to the state’s grape, fruit tree, and logging industries, because the greatest risk of spread was seen in people transporting materials containing egg masses laid on smooth bark, stone, and other vertical surfaces.[5] The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture banned transport of items that could harbor the hopper, including firewood, lawn mowers, outdoor chairs, trucks, and RVs from seven municipalities on November 1, 2014.[5] Given the presence of old egg masses, the insect was estimated to have been in the area since at least 2012, having survived the 2013/14 winter's unusual cold.[9] A national working group led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, consisting of university and USDA scientists, was organized “to determine what is known about the lanternfly and what research is needed, including DNA analysis to pinpoint where the infestation originated."[6]

In July 2018, spotted lanternfly was confirmed in three New Jersey counties[10], in September 2018 in two New York locations[11] as well as in Virginia.[12]

Pest control

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture recommends (based on information from PennState Extension [13]):

  1. Kill eggs October through May by scraping them off of surfaces, "double bag them and throw them in the garbage,"[5] or scrape the eggs directly into a ziploc bag of alcohol or hand sanitizer to kill them.[14]
  2. Removing spotted lanternfly hosts, the Ailanthus altissima tree (Chinese sumac or tree of heaven) saving only male individuals to use as "trap" trees, since the spotted lanternfly requires a meal from this tree before laying eggs.[15] Remaining male "trap" trees should be wrapped with sticky bands starting in early spring to catch any nymphs.
  3. Trees can be treated with systemic pesticides June–August. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture recommends tree injection and bark sprays (applied by professional applicators), and soil drench and foliar sprays (can be applied by homeowners).[15] It recommends seven different pesticides as of June 2018.[15]

Neonicotinoids, pyrethrins, and organophosphates are effective against spotted lanternfly. Adults and second to fourth-instar nymphs appear to be attracted to spearmint oil, which could be used in their control. Sticky traps at the base of tree trunks have also been used. A parasitic wasp, Anastatus orientalis, was found to parasitize up to 69% of spotted lanternfly eggs in China and is candidate biological pest control agent in South Korea.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/21/science/lanternflies-pennsylvania-crops.html
  2. ^ a b Bill Chapell (3 November 2014). "Invasive Bug Prompts Quarantine In Pennsylvania Townships". The Two Way Breaking News from NPR.org. NPR.org.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Western Farm Press (10 November 2014). "Spotted lanternfly - a new threat to grapes, stone fruit?". Western Farm Press. Penton Agriculture Market.
  4. ^ Adam White. "Descriptions of a new genus and some new species of Homopterous Insects from the East in the collection of the British Museum". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 15 (95). Biodiversity Heritage Library: 34–37. doi:10.1080/037454809495244.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Spotted Lanternfly". Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. n.d.
  6. ^ a b c d Chuck Gill (17 November 2014). "Entomologists hope vigilance, research stop newly discovered spotted lanternfly". phys.org. Science X network.
  7. ^ Department of Entomology (10 November 2014). "The Spotted Lanternfly, a New Insect Pest Detected in Pennsylvania". Entomology News 2014. Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.
  8. ^ "Impact of minimum winter temperature on Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) egg mortality". Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology. 14 (1): 123–125. January 2011. doi:10.1016/j.aspen.2010.09.004.
  9. ^ a b Kris Maher (18 November 2014). "New Invasive Pest Has Pennsylvania Towns on Alert". WSJ.
  10. ^ "These three N.J. counties are now under a spotted lanternfly quarantine". NJ.com. Retrieved 2018-09-27.
  11. ^ Orr, Steve; Schuhmacher, Tracy (11 September 2018). "Invasive bug that feasts on grapes, hops and apples found in the Finger Lakes". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  12. ^ McGrath, Mike (5 October 2018). "Invasive spotted lanternfly makes journey into Virginia". WTOP. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  13. ^ Swackhamer, Emelie. "Extension Educator, Green Industry". Penn State Extension. Penn State Extension. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  14. ^ Swackhamer, Emelie. "How To Remove Spotted Lanternfly Eggs". PennState Extension. Penn State Extension. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  15. ^ a b c Spotted Lanternfly Management for homeowners -Host Removal 22 June 2018, retrieved 12 October 2018
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