Determining sequestration duration of ailanthone in the spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula White

Spotted lanternfly (SLF) (Lycorma delicatula White [Hemiptera: Fulgoridae]) are large phloem-feeding insects, native to Asia and invasive to the United States as of 2014. Since their arrival in Pennsylvania, they have spread to 19 additional states and are considered a highly polyphagous pest, causing damage to over 100 species of forest, agricultural, and ornamental plants. Despite their polyphagous nature, SLF strongly prefer the tree-of-heaven (ToH) (Ailanthus altissima Mill. Swingle [Sapindales: Simaroubaceae]) as a host plant, likely having coevolved with the tree in their shared native range. Several sources of evidence suggest SLF sequester a class of phytotoxins, the quassinoids, found within ToH for use as antipredator defense. However, little is known of the efficiency by which SLF can sequester these compounds and for how long SLF can retain them once sequestered. Here we describe the use of quantitative liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify ailanthone, the most prominent quassinoid in ToH, in SLF collected from ToH in the field. Preliminary results indicate that SLF lose sequestered ailanthone over a 14 day period when maintained on potted grapevine at a higher rate than SLF maintained on potted ToH. These results provide further support for the removal of ToH from agroecosystems threatened by SLF, such as vineyards, to potentially enhance predation of these invasive insects.