Rear non-target species that thenwill be used for host range testing of two potential candidatebiological control agents of spotted lanternfly

This cooperative agreement from the US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service provides $212,104 to the University of Rhode Island from May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023 under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care federal grant program (CFDA 10.025).

The award will support rearing non-target species to be used for host range testing of two potential biological control agents for the spotted lanternfly: the egg parasitoid Anastatus orientalis (including four haplotypes of interest) and the nymphal parasitoid Dryinus sinicus. It will also fund an initial survey for potential parasitoids attacking native planthoppers that may spill over to the spotted lanternfly, as well as work to improve storage methods for spotted lanternfly egg masses to better support rearing nymphs for D. sinicus parasitism. Non-target species will be collected, investigated for signs of parasitism, and reared to provide to the Forest Pest Methods Lab for testing. The effort additionally involves collecting and identifying any native parasitoids and conducting spotted lanternfly egg storage studies. No subawards are supported under this prime award.

The two potentialbiological control agents are the EGG parasitoid anastatus orientalis(including four haplotypes of interest) and the nymphal parasitoiddryinus sinicus. This agreement also includes plans for an initialsurvey for potential parasitoids attacking native planthoppers, as thesemay be able to spill over to SLF. Work toward improved storage methodsof SLF EGG masses to better support rearing nymphs for d. Sinicusparasitism will also be conducted. Work plans include collectingnon-target species, investigating them for signs of parasitism, rearingnon-targets on their appropriate host plants, and providing thesenon-targets to the forest pest methods lab to put into testing. Theeffort also will involve collecting any native parasitoids andidentifying them and running SLF EGG storage studies to improve eggstorage methods. The spotted lanternfly (lycorma delicatula) was firstdiscovered in the U.S. In 2014 in pennsylvania and since has spread toother states, including virginia, maryland, delaware, new jersey, westvirginia, massachusetts, among others. IT is a pest of agriculturalcrops and has caused economic losses on grapes where IT has beenestablished. Thus, the stakeholders for this work include growers inthe east coast as well as other threatened states. No subawards aresupported under this prime award.