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10-Minute Presentation

Plant-Insect Ecosystems

10-min: P-IE, Microbial Control and Microbial Interactions

Laboratory and field evaluations of Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) for control of spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae)

Wednesday, November 13, 2024
2:42 PM – 2:54 PM MST
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 126 C
Oral Presentation
The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula, SLF) is an invasive pest that was first detected in the United States in 2014. Synthetic insecticides are currently the most effective approach to suppress SLF. To improve the sustainability and efficacy of SLF management, we tested commercially available Beauveria bassiana products (BotaniGard WP, BotaniGard ES, and BioCeres WP) for suppression of SLF eggs, nymphs, and adults using different methodologies. In 2022, adults were directly sprayed with B. bassiana products or water in containers, then caged on trees in the field, and mortality was determined. All BotaniGard products resulted in up to 80% mortality, indicating that these products may be potential tools for SLF control. In 2023, trees were first sprayed with insecticide and after 24 hours, ten SLF late instar nymphs or ten adults were caged to the tree trunks.  In these experiments, mortality and infection rate did not differ between BotaniGard- and water-sprayed nymphs or adults. In 2024, egg masses were sprayed in the field either one week before egg hatch (“pre-hatch” spray) or 1-2 days before egg hatch (“at-hatch” spray). The proportion of hatched eggs, hatchling mortality, and the proportion of infected hatchlings did not differ between BotaniGard- and water-sprayed egg masses. Because B. bassiana can attribute to high mortality when applied directly to SLF (based on 2022 results) and it is difficult to directly spray and capture SLF in the field, we plan to evaluate different methods for delivering B. bassiana spores to SLF.