Project Overview

Reports

Commodities

• Additional Plants: ornamentals

• Fruits: grapes, tree fruit

• Natural Areas: forestry (hardwood)

Target Pests

• Target Pests: other

Practices

The spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula (White), is a non-native planthopper and was first detected in the United States in Pennsylvania in September of 2014. Since its initial detection, SLF has been confirmed in other states such as New Jersey, Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Massachusetts and North Carolina. In September 2023, The Tennessee Department of Agriculture has confirmed the detection of SLF in Tennessee.

Adult SLF emerge in late summer and aggregate on host plants to feed. After mating, egg masses are laid on hosts and other fairly smooth surfaces in the fall. SLF use piercing-sucking mouthparts to take in plant nutrients. Being polyphagous and the fact that egg masses can be laid on different substrates, this pest can impact broad range of industries.

Spotted lanternfly feeds on > 70 different species of plants, which can impact growers across the state and the southeastern region. Many reports clearly show the negative impacts in areas where SLF is already established. Being an invasive pest with wide host range concerns are not just limited to the Southern Region.

This proposal is developed to form a working group of growers, pest management professionals, researchers, Extension specialists and agents, and industry partners to tackle SLF affecting economically to Specialty Crops in the Southeastern US. The goals are to identify research that most benefit the growers and Extension priorities, to coordinate research and outreach activities by researchers and growers, and to produce collaborative research and outreach products and grant proposals. Ultimately, our goal is to avoid duplication of efforts, and maximizing resource utilization and returns.

This SLF Working Group will focus solely on entomology research and outreach for SLF. Since we have confirmed SLF infestation in Tennessee we can take a leadership role in confronting such an important pest problem by supporting a working group to coordinate future research, outreach and grantsmanship activities in the southern region.

1.Establish a SLF Working Group to prioritize research and Extension efforts pertaining to the biology, ecology and management of SLF Southeastern US.

1. Identification of key personnel who will lead a team focusing on the major discussion topics.
2. Identifying key topics will help understand knowledge gaps and research and Extension opportunities.
3. Key personnel will be given a topic which he or she will lead a team discussion.
4. Meetings with respective discussion teams will be conducted.

2. Organize a SLF Working Group meeting where stakeholders can discuss research, Extension and outreach efforts on SLF in Specialty Crops in the Southeastern US”.

1. Organize the SLF Working Group meeting
2. Attendees and participants of the meeting will be finalized.
3. A central location for the meeting will be identified.
4. The agenda will be finalized and sent out to the attendees.
   

3.Develop research, Extension and outreach priorities, and an outline for a research grant proposal  

1. Identification of knowledge gaps, research needs and Extension priorities.
2. Develop a Best Management Guide (BMG) for SLF