Spotted Lanternflies Respond to Natural Pheromone Lures for Mate-Finding and Oviposition

Abstract

Using semiochemicals collected from spotted lanternflies Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) (SLF) and deployed in the field with circle traps, we demonstrated that SLF responded to SLF pheromones: in particular, this was the case for males while seeking mates and for females while ovipositing. The attractants consisted of SLF body extract emitted from diffuser lures and SLF honeydew on burlap ribbons, collected from heavily infested locations. Traps with attractants were deployed in field sites with very light SLF infestations to avoid competing signals of pre-existing aggregations. The number of SLF equivalents emitted by each diffuser per trapping period was used in a dose–response analysis. Three trees per block received either (1) a control hexane lure and a clean ribbon, (2) a lure containing SLF extract and a clean ribbon, or (3) a lure containing SLF extract and a honeydew-laden ribbon. Ten blocks were sampled three times per week for twelve weeks. We found a significant positive dose–response by males to SLF body extract only in the presence of SLF honeydew, indicating a synergistic effect between honeydew volatiles and body volatiles. This dose–response occurred for five weeks after mating started, after which males no longer responded. Subsequently, females had a significant positive dose–response to SLF extract only in the presence of honeydew when oviposition was their primary activity, continuing for two weeks, suggesting that females may use pheromones to aggregate for oviposition. The extract in the absence of honeydew did not result in a positive dose–response, nor did the hexane control. These findings suggest that SLF respond synergistically to the combination of pheromones present in both SLF honeydew and SLF bodies. Thus, combining key components from both sources may aid the development of semiochemical lures for SLF.