Preferred name: Lycorma delicatula
Authority: (White)
Taxonomic position: Animalia: Arthropoda: Hexapoda: Insecta: Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoridae
Other scientific names: Aphaena delicatula White
Common names in English: Chinese blistering cicada (US), spot clothing wax cicada, spotted lanternfly (US)
view more common names online...
EPPO Categorization: A1 list, Alert list (formerly)
EU Categorization: A1 Quarantine pest (Annex II A)
view more categorizations online...
EPPO Code: LYCMDE

The wide reported host range of Lycorma delicatula (spotted lanternfly) is due to a combination of polyphagous feeding early in its development as well as literature listing egg laying substrates as hosts (Barringer and Ciafre, 2020).  Herbaceous plants make up a large portion of the feeding hosts for early instars, but this lessens for larger instars and adults. Woody hosts can be utilized by all life stages, but more feeding sites become available during development as larger mouthparts allow access to thicker tissues on branches and trunks.  

Certain hosts such as Ailanthus altissima, Juglans, Acer, Vitis, and Salix are strongly preferred by L. delicatula and can support populations all year-round.  A distinction should be made when evaluating hosts records for L.  delicatula as distinctions in the literature are not always clear between feeding hosts and egg oviposition hosts (Barringer and Ciafre, 2020).

Host list: Acacia sp., Acer buergerianum, Acer negundo, Acer palmatum, Acer pictum subsp. mono, Acer platanoides, Acer pseudoplatanus, Acer rubrum, Acer saccharinum, Acer saccharum, Actinidia chinensis, Ailanthus altissima, Albizia julibrissin, Alcea rosea, Alcea sp., Alliaria petiolata, Alnus hirsuta, Alnus incana, Amelanchier canadensis, Amelanchier sp., Angelica dahurica, Aralia cordata, Aralia elata, Arctium lappa, Armoracia rusticana, Betula alleghaniensis, Betula lenta, Betula nigra, Betula papyrifera, Betula pendula, Betula platyphylla, Broussonetia papyrifera, Brucea javanica, Buxus microphylla, Buxus sinica, Callistephus chinensis, Camellia sinensis, Cannabis sativa, Carpinus caroliniana, Carya glabra, Carya ovata, Castanea crenata, Catalpa bungei, Cedrela fissilis, Celastrus orbiculatus, Celtis occidentalis, Cercis canadensis, Chamerion angustifolium, Colutea arborescens, Cornus controversa, Cornus florida, Cornus kousa, Cornus officinalis, Cornus sp., Corylus americana, Crataegus viridis, Diospyros kaki, Elaeagnus umbellata, Euphorbia pulcherrima, Fagus grandifolia, Ficus carica, Firmiana simplex, Forsythia sp., Fraxinus americana, Fraxinus sp., Gleditsia triacanthos, Glycine max, Hibiscus sp., Humulus lupulus, Humulus scandens, Juglans cinerea, Juglans hindsii, Juglans major, Juglans mandshurica, Juglans microcarpa, Juglans nigra, Juglans regia var. orientis, Juglans sp., Juniperus chinensis, Ligustrum lucidum, Lindera benzoin, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Lonicera japonica, Lonicera sp., Luffa sp., Maackia amurensis, Magnolia kobus, Magnolia obovata, Mallotus japonicus, Malus domestica, Malus sp., Malus spectabilis, Melia azedarach, Metaplexis japonica, Monarda sp., Morus alba, Morus bombycis, Nicotiana sp., Nyssa sylvatica, Ocimum basilicum, Osmanthus sp., Ostrya virginiana, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Paulownia kawakamii, Paulownia tomentosa, Phellodendron amurense, Philadelphus schrenkii, Phyllostachys heterocycla, Picrasma quassioides, Pinus strobus, Platanus occidentalis, Platanus orientalis, Platanus x hispanica, Platycarya strobilacea, Platycladus orientalis, Populus alba, Populus grandidentata, Populus koreana, Populus simonii, Populus tomentosa, Prunus armeniaca, Prunus avium, Prunus cerasus, Prunus mume, Prunus persica, Prunus salicina, Prunus serotina, Prunus serrulata var. spontanea, Prunus serrulata, Prunus x yedoensis, Pseudocydonia sinensis, Pterocarya stenoptera, Punica granatum, Pyrus sp., Quercus acutissima, Quercus aliena, Quercus prinus, Quercus rubra, Quercus sp., Rhus chinensis, Rhus typhina, Robinia pseudoacacia, Rosa multiflora, Rosa rugosa, Rosa sp., Rubus crataegifolius, Rubus sp., Salix babylonica, Salix pierotii, Salix sp., Salix udensis, Salvia sp., Sassafras albidum, Sorbaria sorbifolia, Sorbus commixta, Styphnolobium japonicum, Styrax japonicus, Styrax obassia, Syringa vulgaris, Tamarix chinensis, Tetradium daniellii, Tetradium sp., Thuja occidentalis, Tilia americana, Toona sinensis, Toxicodendron radicans, Toxicodendron vernicifluum, Ulmus pumila, Ulmus rubra, Ulmus sp., Vaccinium angustifolium, Viburnum prunifolium, Vitis aestivalis, Vitis amurensis, Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis sp., Vitis vinifera, Zanthoxylum bungeanum, Zelkova serrata

Lycorma delicatula is an Old World tropical species native primarily to China and South-East Asia. L. delicatula introductions were detected in other countries starting with the Republic of Korea in 2004 (Kim and Kim, 2005, Han et al., 2008) where it is now widespread, and Japan in 2008 where its distribution is limited (Kim et al., 2013; Han et al., 2008; Lee et al., 2019).  The first populations in the United States were detected in 2014 in the state of Pennsylvania (Barringer et al., 2014).  Since then, it has spread through the northeast Mid-Atlantic region of the United States via natural dispersal mechanisms and human assisted transportation.    

Asia: China (Anhui, Beijing, Chongqing, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Neimenggu, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanghai, Shanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin, Xinjiang, Xizhang, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Japan (Honshu, Kyushu, Ryukyu Archipelago), Korea, Republic, Taiwan, Vietnam
North America: United States of America (Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia)

Lycorma delicatula is a univoltine species that overwinters as egg masses in both its native and introduced ranges. These cryptic egg masses are laid on or near suitable hosts and can often be found on inanimate substrates or non-host material. Egg masses are covered with a waxy exudate secreted by the female which helps to protect against desiccation and acts to camouflage the egg mass by masking its appearance with a mud like covering. Nymphs hatch in the spring and disperse into the environment, exhibiting a cyclic behaviour of dropping off hosts and climbing up nearby new hosts or structures (Kim et al., 2011).

The host range of L. delicatula during the nymphal stage is the broadest, including many herbaceous species though these hosts become decreasingly preferred as the instar mature and effectively obsolete during adulthood. The smaller plants are unable to support the feeding demand of the larger life stages. Early instars, 1^st to the 3^rd, are black with white spots. The 4^th instar has a striking change in colouration with a large section of red covering the head, thorax, abdomen, and wing pads. This colouration is thought to be aposematic as L. delicatula nymphs at this stage start showing a preference for feeding on hosts with defensive chemical compounds such as Ailanthus altissima. These chemicals contribute to a decreased palatability to certain insect predators (Kang et al., 2011).

The adult life stage has a distinct colouration compared to the nymphs. Large grey wings are held sloped downward over the body with black spots basally with apical third covered in black reticulation. The body is a light brown to dark brown with darker legs. The hindwings are vividly coloured with alternating bands of black and white, with a red section. Adults are capable of short bursts of flight of one to 2 metres when disturbed and longer dispersal flights of 10-40 meters (Baker et al., 2019; Domingue and Baker, 2019). Adults are also able to move short distances in large groups when areas are depleted of hosts, and often move into cultivated crops in the autumn, especially orchards and nurseries.

Adults are generally found on woody hosts such as trees and large vines due to feeding requirements. Host trees trend towards those with high sugar contents in their phloem and/or contain defensive chemicals for uptake (Song et al., 2018). Aggregation behaviour on host trees results in an uneven distribution of the population, with certain trees appearing more attractive than similar adjacent trees (Domingue et al., 2020). Common feeding hosts for adults include Ailanthus altissima, Acer, Betula, Juglans, Salix, Vitis, and Zelkova serrata (Barringer and Ciafre, 2020).

Symptoms

Symptoms of L. delicatula feeding are most apparent with 4^th instar nymphs and adults. The feeding on phloem tissue can lead to branch flagging and wilting, weeping wounds on tree trunks and branches, and in very heavy infestations, fungal mats at the base of a tree resulting from large accumulations of honeydew (sugary by-product excretions from L. delicatula feeding). Sooty mould can develop on the leaf surfaces below the feeding area and on understory plants as honeydew is excreted in large quantities. This mould coats leaves reducing photosynthesis and results in early leaf drop and dieback. Understories under heavily fed upon trees can be stunted or killed and there may be a blackened, burned looking surface on the ground. Fruit crops can experience reduced harvest, sugar and nutritional content, and mould accumulation, especially in vineyards.

Identification is commonly based on the examination of adult specimens, however molecular identification on all life stages can be carried out using conventional PCR followed by Sanger sequencing analysis (EPPO, 2020).

Morphology

Egg

The eggs of L. delicatula are laid in cryptic egg masses of approximately 30-50 eggs per mass. The individual eggs are small (1 mm in length) brown ovals and laid in 3-5 rows (Dara et al., 2015). The outward surface has an operculum, a darker, narrow oval that will be used as an exit for the emerging nymph. The entire egg mass is covered by a waxy substance secreted by the female, completing the ootheca. This waxy coating is initially whitish-grey and darkens over time to a dark grey. The waxy covering will degrade over time, given the covering a dried mud like appearance, with cracks in the surface and possibly flaking. Egg masses are typically laid on flat surfaces in natural environments such as tree trunks, flat rocks, under bark, and other protected spaces. Man-made structures also provide suitable substrates such as patio furniture, fence posts, rusted metal, outdoor structures (Liu, 2019). Egg mass remnants can be observed over a year after hatching.

Larva

The nymphs have two distinct appearances depending on the instars. The first, second and third instars are black with white spots on the body and appendages. Visually, the only differences between each life stage is the overall length with the 1^st instar approximately 3.5-4.5 mm, the 2^nd approximately 5-6.5 mm, and the 3^rd instar approximately 7-9.5 mm (Dara et al., 2015). The larger fourth instar is approximately 11-15 mm in length and has a brightly coloured form with red patches on the head, thorax, wing pads, and abdomen. White spots are still present on the legs and body. All stages are mobile with excellent jumping abilities which enable them to avoid predation (Kang et al., 2017).

Adult

Adults of L. delicatula superficially resemble moths when at rest. The wings are held sloped downward over the body. The thorax and head are a light brown with the legs dark brown. The forewings are greyish with black spots on the basal two-thirds with the apical third covered in reticulated venation over smaller dark bands. The hind wings are banded with black and white with large red posterior area, spotted with black. The abdomen is black dorsally and ventrally, with yellow integument laterally. The yellow integument will swell with feeding and egg development, separating abdominal sclerotized sections and showing yellow bands between tergites. Females can be distinguished by the red posterior caudal structures and their generally larger size (females range between 24-27 mm in length whereas males are 21-22 mm (Dara et al., 2015).

Detection and inspection methods

Visual detection of L. delicatula varies depending on the life stage being investigated. Egg masses are cryptically coloured and camouflaged and can be laid in protected areas making detection difficult. The protective wax covering of the egg mass resembled dried mud, that takes on a dried, cracked mud like appearance as it ages. The mud colour patches, roughly 2.5-5 cm long, can be laid on a variety of materials such as shipping containers, quarried stone, pallets, vehicle undercarriages and wheels, and other man-made materials involved in commerce. In the outdoor environment, detection of egg masses is complicated by eggs being laid on similar coloured tree trunks, in sheltered spaces under rocks or tree bark, or high in tree canopies.

The early instars, 1^st to 3^rd, do not typically produce any detectable symptoms or damage as their feeding pressure typically does not cause obvious symptoms. The 4^th instars can, in large enough numbers, cause wilting on smaller plants and flagging of branches.

Current trapping methods include placing several traps on trunks of host trees to exploit the lanternfly’s climbing behaviour (Francese et al., 2020). The traps include sticky paper bands and modified pecan weevil traps (circle trunk traps) which have various advantages and disadvantages. Sticky traps, while easy to install, are less useful against the later instars and adults. Circle trunk traps are effective against all life stages and are reusable but require more investment in materials per tree. 

The distribution of L. delicatula is facilitated by natural and human mechanisms. Natural methods of spread rely on two strategies that result in slow localized spread. The first dispersal method is spread of nymphs after hatching as they move through the environment feeding on different hosts and their cyclic feeding patterns (Kim et al., 2011, Keller et al., 2020). The second dispersal method is dispersal flights or migratory flights by adults. These are due to either population density pressures or depletion of local resources by heavy feeding. Under ideal conditions females could advance upwind distances greater than three kilometres with repeated sustained flights in a short time frame (Wolfin et al., 2020). Typically, field observations of flight were much shorter, under 30 metres, for durations insufficient to travel several kilometres.

In international trade, the pathways with a risk of introduction are woody plants for planting (except seeds), round wood and sawn wood, wood packaging material as well as man-made items and inert objects (such as stones, containers, used vehicles). In addition, wood pieces and bark (above a certain size) may also present a risk (EPPO, 2016).

Economic impact

The economic impact of L. delicatula was recently studied by Harper et al. (2019). The effects of quarantine requirements for L. delicatula have led to millions of dollars (US) of impact to agricultural businesses in infested and adjacent regions. The authors also examined impacts on the total economy. Indirect costs may also be considered in quality-of-life issues as sooty mould from feeding can also contribute to economic impacts for homeowners (Urban 2019).

The pest has been present in the Republic of Korea since 2004 and increasing spread and damage has been observed (Kim and Kim, 2005). Grapevines have been particularly affected with increasing hectares of crops damaged through direct feeding and sooty mould damage (Han et al., 2008; Park, 2009; Lee, 2010; Lee et al., 2011). Kim et al. (2011) mention that the density of L. delicatula is high in urban areas on A. altissima.

Control

Chemical control has been shown to be effective in controlling L. delicatula in both residential, commercial, and industrial settings. A variety of chemical controls such as contact sprays, residual sprays, and systemic insecticides have all been effective at killing L. delicatula (Kim et al., 2010; Shin et al., 2010; Leach et al., 2019; Clifton et al., 2020). Cultural controls such as exclusion netting, sticky tree bands and circle trunk traps can be used to control or exclude L. delicatula with varying levels of success. Exclusion netting can work well for vineyards, excluding L. delicatula from the fruit or the entire plant.

At present, there are no biological control agents available for L. delicatula. Natural enemies have been identified in China, but are not yet used in biocontrol (e.g. Dryinus browni (Yan et al., 2008); Dryinus lycormae (Dong, 1983, 1987; Yang, 1994); Anastatus orientalis, (Yang et al., 2015a; Kim et al., 2011b; Choi et al., 2014)); Dryinus sinicus (Xin et al., 2020). Ooencyrtus kuvanae has been documented parasitizing L. delicatula eggs in North America but is not host specific limiting is possible benefits (Liu, 2017). Anastatus orientalis is under investigation both in the Republic of Korea and the USA as a potential biological control agent, because of high rates of parasitism of eggs (Broadley et al., 2020). Exploratory work in China has suggested an additional candidate for further investigation: Dryinus sinicus (Xin et al., 2020).

Phytosanitary risk

Lycorma delicatula is considered a phytosanitary risk due to its polyphagous feeding habits and economic damage associated with feeding. It is a quarantine pest for Canada and Morocco. It has caused economic impacts in its introduced ranges, in both the Republic of Korea and the United States of America. Feeding damage has been found on commodities such as grapes and orchard fruits and several valuable hardwoods. Repeated heavy feeding pressure can result in reduced or no yields in crops and can stunt growth and possibly lead to mortality in preferred hosts over long periods. As L. delicatula can be moved over long distances easily in the egg mass stage it poses a significant risk of introduction to the EPPO region.

In order to prevent entry or spread of L. delicatula, imported materials coming from infested regions should be inspected for the presence of egg masses. Unless fresh plant material is present, there is little to no risk of nymphs or adults being present due to feeding needs. 

Suggested phytosanitary measures are specified in the EPPO PRA (EPPO, 2016) and are as follows:

Woody plants for planting (except seeds) of known hosts should originate from areas free from the pest or from a pest free production site and be stored and transported in conditions preventing egg-laying (through pest free areas, or outside of the pest flying period, or enclosed). Alternatively, woody hosts should be grown under complete physical isolation and packaging should be free from the pest and stored and transported as above or plants should be transported with stems/branches with a diameter < 1 cm.

For roundwood and sawn wood, the commodity should originate from a pest free area and stored and transported in conditions preventing egg-laying (as above). Or it should be treated (heat treatment or irradiation) or squared (to remove the wood surface) and stored and transported in conditions that prevent egg laying.

For woodchips, hogwood, processed wood residues and bark: chips or bark should be cut to a size below 2.5 x 2.5 cm in two dimensions or originate from a pest free area and transported in conditions that prevent egg-laying or heat treated and stored and transported in conditions preventing egg-laying.

Early detection of populations may allow for steps to be taken to prevent spread of L. delicatula from its introduction point. This could include removal of host material in the area, chemical treatment of trap trees, and other mitigation efforts.

Baker TC, Smyers EC, Urban JM, Meng Z, Pagadala Damadaram KJ, Myrick AJ, Cooperband MF & Domingue MJ (2019) Progression of seasonal activities of adults of the spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, during the 2017 season of mass flight dispersal behavior in eastern Pennsylvania. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 22, 705-713.

Barringer LE, Donovall LR, Spichiger S-E, Lynch D & Henry D (2015) The first New World record of Lycorma delicatula (Insecta: Hemiptera: Fulgoridae). Entomological News 125, 20–23.

Barringer LE & Ciafré CM (2020) Worldwide feeding host plants of spotted lanternfly, with significant additions from North America. Environmental Entomology 49, 999–1011.

Broadley HJ, Gould JR, Sullivan LT, Wang X-Y, Hoelmer KA, Hickin ML, & Elkinton JS (2020) Life history and rearing of Anastatus orientalis (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), an egg parasitoid of the spotted lanternfly (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae). Environmental Entomology 50, 28–35.

Clifton EH, Hajek AE, Jenkins NE, Roush RT, Rost JP, & Biddinger DJ (2020) Applications of Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) to control populations of spotted lanternfly (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), in semi-natural landscapes and on grapevines. Environmental Entomology 49, 854–864.

Dara SK, Barringer LE, & Arthurs SP (2015) Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae): a new invasive pest in the United States. Journal of Integrated Pest Management 6, 20.

Domingue MJ & Baker TC (2019) Orientation of flight for physically disturbed spotted lanternflies, Lycorma delicatula, (Hemiptera, Fulgoridae). Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 22, 117–120. 

Domingue MJ, Cooperband MF, & Baker TC (2020) Skewed adult sex ratios observed early in the North American invasion of Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae). Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 23, 425–429.

EPPO (2020) PM 7/144 Lycorma delicatula. EPPO Bulletin 50, 477-483. 

EPPO (2016) Pest Risk Analysis for Lycorma delicatula. EPPO, Paris. Available at http://www.eppo.int/QUARANTINE/Pest_Risk_Analysis/PRA_intro.htm

Francese JA, Cooperband MF, Murman KM, Cannon SL, Booth EG, Devine SM, & Wallace MS (2020) Developing traps for the spotted lanternfly Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridea) Environmental Entomology, 49, 269-276.

Han JM, Kim H, Lim EJ, Lee S, Kwon Y-J, & Cho S (2008) Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoridae: Aphaeninae) finally, but suddenly arrived in Korea. Entomological Research 38, 281–286.

Harper JK, Stone W, Kelsey TW, & Kime LF (2019) Potential economic impact of the spotted lanternfly on agriculture and forestry in Pennsylvania. Center for Rural Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, Pa. https://www.rural.palegislature.us/documents/reports/Spotted-Lanternfly-2019.pdf

Kang C-K, Lee S-I, & Jablonski PG (2011) Effect of sex and bright coloration on survival and predator-induced wing damage in an aposematic lantern fly with startle display. Ecological Entomology 36, 709–716.

Kang C-K, Moon H, Sherratt TN, Lee S-I & Jablonski PG (2017) Multiple lines of anti-predator defence in the spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 120, 115-124. 

Keller JA, Johnson AE, Uyi O, Wurzbacher S, Long D, & Hoover K (2020) Dispersal of Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) nymphs through contiguous, deciduous forest. Environmental Entomology 49, 1012–1018.

Kim SS & Kim SW (2005) Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) in Korea. Lucanus 5, 9–10.

Kim S-K, Lee G-Y, Shin Y-H, & Kim G-HJ (2010) Chemical control effect against spot clothing wax cicada, Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) nymphs and adults. Korean Journal of Pesticide Science 14, 440–445.

Kim JG, Lee E-H, Seo Y-M, & Kim NY (2011) Cyclic behavior of Lycorma delicatula (Insecta: Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) on host plants. Journal of Insect Behavior 24, 423–435.

Kim HJ, Kim MY, Kwon DH, Park SW, Lee YR, Huang JH, Kai S, Lee H-S, Hong K-J, Jang YK, & Lee SH (2013) Molecular comparison of Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) isolates in Korea, China, and Japan. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 16, 503–506.

Leach H, Biddinger DJ, Krawczyk G, Smyers E, & Urban JM (2019) Evaluation of insecticides for control of the spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), a new pest of fruit in the Northeastern U.S. Crop Protection 124, 104833.

Lee JE, Moon SR, Ahn HG, Cho SR, Yang JO, Yoon C, & Kim JH (2009) Feeding ehavior of Lycorma delicatula (Heimptera: Fulgoridae) and response on feeding stimulants of some plants. Korean Journal of Applied Entomology 48, 467-477.

Lee D, Park Y, & Leskey TC (2019) A review of biology and management of Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), an emerging global invasive species. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 22, 589–596.

Liu H (2017) An old remedy for a new problem? Identificiation of Ooencyrtus kuvanae (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), an egg parasitoid of Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) in North America. Journal of Insect Science 17, 1-6.

Liu H (2019) Oviposition substrate selection, egg mass characteristics, host preference, and life history of the spotted lanternfly (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) in North America. Environmental Entomology 48, 1452-1468.

Park JD, Kim MY, Lee SG, Shin SC, Kim JH, & Park IK (2009) Biological characteristics of Lycorma delicatula and the control effects of some insecticides. Korean Journal of Applied Entomology 48, 53-57.

Shin YH, Moon SR, Yoon C, Ahn KS, & Kim GH (2010) Insecticidal activity of 26 insecticides against eggs and nymphs of Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae). Korean Journal of Pesticide Science 14, 157–163 (in Korean).

Song S, Kim S, Kwon SW, Lee S-I, & Jablonski PG (2018) Defense sequestration associated with narrowing of diet and ontogenetic change to aposematic colours in the spotted lanternfly. Scientific Reports 8, 16831.

Urban JM (2019) Perspective: shedding light on spotted lanternfly impacts in the USA. Pest Management Science 76, 10-17.

Wolfin MS, Myrick AJ & Baker TC (2020) Flight duration capabilities of dispersing adult spotted lanternflies, Lycorma delicatula. Journal of Insect Behavior 33, 125-137.

Xin B, Zhang Y-L, Wang X-Y, Cao L-M, Hoelmer KA, Broadley HJ, & Gould JR (2021) Exploratory survey of spotted lanternfly (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) and its natural enemies in China. Environmental Entomology 50, 36–45.

This datasheet was prepared in 2021 by Lawrence Barringer. His valuable contribution is gratefully acknowledged.

EPPO (2024) Lycorma delicatula. EPPO datasheets on pests recommended for regulation. https://gd.eppo.int (accessed 2024-04-26)

This datasheet was first published online in 2021. It is maintained in an electronic format in the EPPO Global Database. The sections on 'Identity', ‘Hosts’, and 'Geographical distribution' are automatically updated from the database. For other sections, the date of last revision is indicated on the right.