Selected Abstracts - Spotted Lanternfly Summit 2025
Effects of spotted lanternfly feeding on grapevine yield and juice/wine chemical parameters
Flor E. Acevedo, Michela Centinari, Sukhman Singh, Taran Rowless, Andrew Harner, Misha Kwasniewski, Jack Dwenger, Don Smith, and Claudia Schmidt.
Penn State University
Abstract: The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula, SLF) is an invasive insect that poses a significant threat to the U.S. grape and wine industry. SLF feeding induces detrimental physiological responses that compromise grapevine health. This study examined the effects of SLF feeding on yield, as well as juice and wine chemical parameters in Vitis vinifera over three consecutive years. We infested two economically important grape cultivars—“Cabernet Franc” (red grape) and “Chardonnay” (white grape)—with 15 different SLF densities (ranging from 0 to 15 individuals per shoot) and quantified the impact on yield, juice pH, total soluble sugars, titratable acidity, and the concentrations of phenolics and tannins in the wine. We found a decrease in yield with increasing SLF densities after the second year of infestation in both cultivars. There was a reduction in the total soluble sugars with increasing SLF densities in Cab Franc juice but not in Chardonnay over the three years of infestation. Juice pH was also lower in Cab Franc during the first two years of infestation but not in the third one; there was no effect on pH for Chardonnay. We found higher titratable acidity in Cab Franc juice in year three, but no effect was seen in other years for either cultivar. Lastly, we found decreased phenolics and tannins at higher SLF densities in Cab Franc wine in the first two years of infestation. Our results confirm that SLF is associated with a decrease in yield and important juice and wine chemical parameters in V. vinifera. These effects were more pronounced at higher SLF densities and consecutive insect feeding over the growing seasons. Our data also suggest that SLF feeding has slightly different effects on the two cultivars tested, eliciting stronger responses in the red cultivar.
Surprising lower lethal limits of the invasive spotted lanternfly
Amanda D Roe & Anna J Turbelin
Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre
Natural Resources Canada, Government of Canada
Abstract: Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is invasive in North America. This species continues to spread beyond its initial infestation site and has established in over 14 states in the eastern USA. Cold winter temperatures are predicted to limit the northern spread of this species, however the cold tolerance and lower thermal limits of this species have not been examined in the North American invaded range. We demonstrate that the egg masses (the overwintering stage of the spotted lanternfly) are surprisingly cold tolerant. We observed hatch after short and long term exposure to temperatures below -20C, well below previously published thermal limit for the species. These results will be critical to inform future risk assessments and distribution modeling for this high risk invasive.
Dryinus sinicus, a nymphal parasitoid of spotted lanternfly and a promising biological control agent
Hannah Broadley
Biological Scientist, Forest Pest Methods Laboratory, USDA APHIS PPQ
Abstract: The USDA APHIS Spotted Lanternfly 5-Year Strategy highlights the necessity for the development of effective and innovative biological control techniques to limit the advancement of spotted lanternfly (SLF). To this end, the USDA APHIS Forest Pest Methods Laboratory (FPML) is evaluating a promising biological control agent, Dryinus sinicus (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae). Dryinus sinicus is a univoltine nymphal parasitoid of spotted lanternfly that is native to China and is an important natural enemy of SLF in its native range. We have established a laboratory colony of D. sinicus and are conducting host range testing evaluations. To date, we have found that the physiological host range of D. sinicus appears to be host specific. Next steps in the evaluation are to include more planthopper families, more species that are closely related to SLF, and choice tests. In this presentations, we’ll share updates on the host range evaluation of D. sinicus, results to date, next steps, and the planned timeline.