Field testing commercially available Beauveria bassiana biopesticides against overwintering spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula)

Preliminary laboratory data suggested that treatments of mycoinsecticides made to overwintering spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) resulted in infection of newly emerged neonates in laboratory settings. Specifically, a single application of commercially available Beauveria bassiana made directly on overwintering egg masses exposed hatching neonates to enough viable spores to become infected. In laboratory studies, the optimal timing of spray applications on spotted lanternfly egg masses was approximately two weeks before hatch. However, infection was observed in treatments applied 28 weeks before hatching at significantly reduced infection rates. Field trials of this laboratory study were conducted the following year to demonstrate the real-world applicability of mycoinsecticide treatments to overwintering spotted lanternfly egg masses. Applications of commercially available B. bassiana were made against red maple trees infested with overwintering spotted lanternfly close to the predicted hatch. Once the hatch occurred, SLF were visually counted to observe population change. Additionally, spotted lanternfly nymphs were collected 5 and 10 days after treatment, euthanized, surface sterilized, and incubated on a selective media to determine if infection occurred. This research is intended to provide growers, vineyards, and land managers additional tools to manage spotted lanternflies. This methodology would provide growers with a viable, low-toxicity, and OMRI-rated solution for managing spotted lanternfly as they hatch with applications of mycoinsecticides months to weeks before the predicted hatch.