D3396: Evaluation of a North American dryinid for biocontrol of spotted lanternfly

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 6, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

AJ

Alexandra Johnson (she/her/hers)

Graduate Student
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, Rhode Island

Co-Author(s)

ET

Elizabeth Tewksbury (she/her/hers)

Research Associate/Adjunct Professor
University of Rhode Island
Charlestown, Rhode Island

Co-Author(s)

ND

Nick Durinzi

SUNY
Syracuse, New York

Co-Author(s)

Carly M. Tribull

Assistant Professor
Farmingdale State College
Farmingdale, New York

Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive planthopper in eastern North America threatening
viticulture and other agricultural industries. A classical biological control program has been
initiated by USDA APHIS Forest Pest Methods lab, and the URI Biocontrol Lab is working in
collaborating on host range testing of the proposed biocontrol agent Dryinus sinicus by
collecting and rearing native hopper species for no-choice testing. While collecting nymphs from
the field in Rhode Island, we have recovered multiple dryinid wasps from native planthopper
species Acanalonia conica and A. bivittata. Pilot no-choice experiments in 2024 of recovered
native Gonatopus sp. wasps with SLF resulted in no oviposition, but one instance of host
feeding. Understanding the potential for native wasp species to provide control of SLF should be
investigated further as part of the pre-release studies for classical biocontrol of SLF.