Developing Traps for the Spotted Lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae)

Abstract

The spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White), an invasive, phloem-feeding fulgorid generalist, was recently discovered in the United States. Current trapping methods include placing glue-covered sticky bands around trunks of host trees to exploit the lanternfly’s behavior of climbing up tree trunks. These bands are messy and need to be replaced often as they become covered in both target and nontarget insects and debris. Fourth instar nymphs and adults have also shown an ability to escape from traditional tree bands or avoid capture. A promising commercially available tree band (BugBarrier) design that faces inward to the trunk and targets larger developmental stages was tested. A modified pecan weevil trap (circle trunk trap) was also compared with tree bands. This design does not require the use of insect-trapping adhesive. Circle trunk traps caught more third and fourth instar and adult L. delicatula than BugBarrier bands. Flight intercept traps caught fewer adult L. delicatula than trunk-based tree bands. In a separate comparison, more spotted lanternflies were caught on adhesive-coated ‘tree mimicking’ traps placed along the edges of Ailanthus altissima Swingle (Sapindales: Simaroubaceae) stands than away from hosts in an open field. Circle trunk traps are recommended for their effectiveness at capturing L. delicatula as well as their relative ease-of-use and reusability.

Horizontal and vertical dispersal capacity and effects of fluorescent marking on Lycorma delicatula nymphs and adults

“…This behavior can be exploited to create compatible trap designs (Leskey & Prokopy, 2002; Leskey, 2006; Acebes‐Doria et al, 2016, 2017; Rice et al, 2018). Thus, sticky bands (Dara et al, 2015) and circle traps (Francese et al, 2020; Nixon et al, 2020), which encircle the entire tree trunk, have exploited this negative gravitactic response, capturing L. delicatula as they climb up tree trunks. However, although these traps capture large numbers of nymphs, adult captures are markedly lower (Nixon et al, 2020).…”

Optimizing Trap Characteristics to Monitor the Leaffooted Bug Leptoglossus zonatus (Heteroptera: Coreidae) in Orchards

“…Cross-vane panel traps have also been used to effectively trap Hemipterans, such as triatomines (Reduviidae: Triatominae) [ 32 ], bagrada bug (Pentatomidae: Bagrada hilaris ) [ 33 ], and brown marmorated stink bug (Pentatomidae: Halyomorpha halys ) [ 34 ], but apparently are not well suited for spotted lanternfly (Fulgoridae: Lycorma delicatula ) [ 35 ]. No traps specifically for Leptoglossus spp.…”

PM 7/144 (1) Lycorma delicatula

“…7). Circle trunk traps have been shown to be effective at capturing nymphs of L. delicatula and are easy to use and reusable (Francese et al ., 2020). The tree kairomone methyl salicylate has been shown to be highly attractive in both laboratory and field trials (Cooperband et al ., 2019).…”

“…Sticky bands are not used to capture fourth‐instar nymphs and adults, as these are strong enough to leave the adhesive (OEPP/EPPO, 2016; Francese et al ., 2020). Circle trunk traps are more effective than sticky traps in catching third‐ and fourth‐instar nymphs and adults of L. delicatula (Francese et al ., 2020).…”