Abstract
Spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), is a non-native planthopper that recently established in the Northeastern United States. Little is known about the spatial dynamics of its invasion and key drivers associated with its regional spread. Here, using field survey data from a total of 241,366 survey locations from 2014–2019 in the eastern USA, we quantified rates of SLF spread and modeled factors associated with the risk of SLF invasion. During the study period, SLF invasion appears to be associated with both short- and long-distance dispersal. On average, the number of newly invaded counties per year increased since initial discovery, with 0–14 long-distance dispersal events per year and median jump distances ranging from 55 to 92 km/year throughout the study period. Radial rates of spread, based on two of the three analysis methods applied, varied from 38.6 to 46.2 km/year. A Cox proportional hazards model suggested that risk of SLF invasion increased with a proxy for human-aided dispersal, human population per county. We anticipate that SLF will continue to spread via both long- and short-distance dispersals, especially via human activities. Efforts to manage SLF populations potentially could target human-mediated movement of SLF to reduce rates of spread.
Highlights
Though most non-native pests fail to establish after arrival, those that successfully found reproducing populations can subsequently spread via a coupling of population growth with dispersal
Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), is a nonnative planthopper recently established in the United States
That risk of long-distance movement increases with human population density, likely reflecting the propensity of Spotted lanternfly (SLF) to become associated with objects transported by humans, such as when SLFs oviposit onto train cars and motor vehicles (Urban 2019)
Summary
Though most non-native pests fail to establish after arrival, those that successfully found reproducing populations can subsequently spread via a coupling of population growth with dispersal. Information on what factors drive spread of a non-native pest can guide management to contain its populations and reduce their impacts to ecosystems and economic costs (Sharov and Liebhold 1998; Liebhold and Kean 2019). Understanding the factors that drive spread is important for newly established species, for which dispersal behaviors and population growth characteristics are often unknown. In addition to indiscriminate egg deposition, SLF has a wide breadth of host use This pest feeds on over 70 species of herbaceous and woody plants belonging to over 20 families, though it prefers tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), especially as a late instar (Dara et al 2015; Parra et al 2017). While detrimental impacts on tree of heaven might be beneficial due to its status as an invasive plant, SLF is considered a serious pest due to its negative impacts on agricultural crops and native trees
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