Dispersal and oviposition patterns of Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) during the oviposition period in Ailanthus altissima (Simaroubaceae)

Abstract

The spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), has the potential to become a global pest and is currently expanding its range in the United States. In this study, we investigated the dispersal patterns of SLF in Ailanthus altissima during its oviposition period in South Korea using a fluorescent marking system. Oviposition patterns of SLF were then analyzed by surveying egg masses in A. altissima patches. The recapture rate of fluorescent-marked SLF rapidly decreased to 30% within the first two weeks. During the oviposition period, seven cases of among-patch dispersal of SLF adults were observed. The minimum distance that SLF could have traveled to achieve these among-patch dispersal events ranged from 10 to 1740 m, with most events spanning under 60 m. Also, the number of A. altissima trees on which fluorescent marked SLF were detected increased until September. Based on the egg mass survey, a total of 159 egg masses were detected from 38 out of 247 A. altissima trees. Furthermore, 79.2% of egg masses were located < 2.5 m above the ground. Finally, a generalized linear mixed model showed that tree height and diameter at root collar (DRC) of A. altissima trees had significant effects on the number of egg masses.

Development of underground detection system using a metal detector and aluminum tag for Copris ochus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

“…Permanent markings including clipping, puncturing, and mutilation have been used mainly for coleopteran insects due to their hard elytra ( Unruh and Chauvin 1993 , Butler et al 2012 ). Color marking, especially fluorescent marking paired with ultraviolet light source, has been proven effective for investigating abundance and dispersal pattern of multiple insect species including mosquitoes, stinkbugs, and lanternflies ( Verhulst et al 2013 , Dickens and Brant 2014 , Rice et al 2015 , Kho et al 2019 , Keller et al 2020 , Jung et al 2022 ). Radio tracking allows real-time tracking of insect location even without clear sight of the insect unlike color marking.…”

Evaluating spotted lanternfly (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) infestation in the Northern Ohio Valley

“…Although the literature is incomplete about SLF's maximum dispersal potential, prior research has demonstrated dispersal estimates of less than 30 m per day (Myrick and Baker 2019, Wolfin et al 2019, Keller et al 2020a). Wolfin et al (2020), however, posited that despite average flight-bouts being less than 30 m, some SLF may hypothetically travel farther than 3,000 m following multiple flight-bouts given ideal conditions and lack of landing cues (with actual kilometer-scale dispersal confirmed by Jung et al 2022). SLF dispersal capability has also been shown to vary by life stage with greater flight distances traveled by early-season adults (Nixon et al 2021) and reduced flight capability in mated females (Wolfin et al 2019).…”

An effective trap for spotted lanternfly egg masses

“…Location of egg masses can vary within a tree and are correlated to tree height. For example it was found that egg masses on TOH were concentrated towards the lower 2.5 m of the tree in areas where trees were < 6 m in height ( 14 ). Another study ( 15 ) found egg masses concentrated above 6 m on TOH when tree height ranged from 5.5 - 23.8 m. SLF egg mass survey activities are common during winter months and have been used to assess populations and gauge infestation levels ( 15 ), however the cryptic nature of SLF egg masses and the fact that eggs are most likely higher up in the canopy make visual egg mass surveys unreliable.…”