Proactive classical biological control of Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) in California (U.S.): Host range testing of Anastatus orientalis (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae)

Lifecycle of Anastatus orientalis (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) and synchrony with its host, the spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae)

Anastatus orientalis Yang & Choi (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), an egg parasitoid of spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), has been documented emerging from host eggs in both autumn and spring, at the beginning and end of the period that spotted lanternfly eggs are present in the field, suggesting parasitoid-host specificity and synchrony. This study was designed to test whether, under conditions that simulate native and introduced ranges of spotted lanternfly, (a) A. orientalis has 2 and only 2 generations per year, (b) A. orientalis adults sometimes emerge when only nontarget species would be available for parasitization, and (c) emerging parasitoid adults can parasitize unhatched host eggs in the spring. Parasitized spotted lanternfly eggs were collected in 2019 and 2020 from Beijing, China and in 2020 and 2021 from Yantai, China. They were shipped for laboratory study in growth chambers programmed to simulate temperature and daylength for collection locations in China and in the invaded range in Pennsylvania, United States. Anastatus orientalis had a flexible lifecycle depending on environmental conditions and possibly genetic makeup, with 1-3 generations per year, and parasitoid emergence was not always synchronous with host egg availability. Additionally, given the cooler temperatures in Pennsylvania, autumn parasitoid emergence was often delayed until late October or November, no progeny were produced, and parasitoid populations died out. Anastatus orientalis does not exhibit host synchrony characteristics that would make it a good candidate for a classical biological control program.

Seven New Species of Anastatus Motschulsky (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eupelmidae) from China Identified Based on Morphological and Molecular Data

Anastatus is the second-largest genus in the family Eupelmidae, with 150 species found worldwide and fourteen known species in China. Most species in this genus are the primary parasitoids of insect eggs, particularly those of Lepidoptera and Hemiptera, and several species have been used for the biological control of various insect pests. In this paper, seven new species of Anastatus Motschulsky, 1859 (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) from China are described, of which A. caeruleus Wang and Peng n. sp. and A. garygibsoni Zhou and Peng n. sp. were reared from the eggs of Tessaratoma papillosa (Hemiptera: Tessaratomidae), while A. daiyunensis Wang and Peng n. sp., A. makrysourus Zhou and Peng n. sp., A. polikiarkoudus Wang and Peng n. sp., A. taibaiensis Wang and Peng n. sp., and A. zdenekbouceki Zhou and Peng n. sp. were collected by malaise traps or sweeping. The new species are all described and illustrated based on female specimens, and the key to all 21 Chinese Anastatus species, based on females, is provided. Partial COI sequences of A. caeruleus n. sp., A. garygibsoni n. sp., and A. taibaiensis n. sp. are provided, and a phylogenetic reconstruction based on maximum likelihood analyses, while showing similar results at high taxonomic levels to our morphological feature classification results, provides additional information on the placement of Anastatus at the species level.

Is Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) a blooming threat to citrus?

Examining the host range of emerging invasive insects is essential to assess their invasion potential and to anticipate the negative impacts of their spread. The ongoing North American invasion of spotted lanternfly (SLF) [Lycorma delicatula (White, 1845)] threatens agricultural, urban, and natural areas. The survival and development of SLF nymphs on Washington navel orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (Sapindales: Rutaceae)] trees were assessed in a quarantine facility. Results indicated that SLF nymphs can develop to at least the third instar by feeding exclusively on Washington navel orange. This finding suggests that, at least up to the third stage of nymphal development, Washington navel orange might be a suitable host for SLF, highlighting the possibility that this invasive pest represents an unrecognized threat to this globally important crop and possibly to other Citrus species.

Description of a new genus of North and Central American planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) with fourteen new species

The fulgorid name Alphina glauca (Metcalf) has been used erroneously since its inception to refer to a primarily southeastern U.S. species described originally as Calyptoproctus marmoratus Spinola. Additionally, at least three undescribed species from the Southwest have been incorrectly identified as A. glauca. The holotype of A. glauca has not been located. Since A. glauca is presently used to refer to multiple species, a neotype is designated which places A. glauca into synonymy with Calyptoproctus marmoratus. We establish a new genus, Scaralina, into which it is placed, giving the new combination Scaralina marmorata (Spinola), along with three southwestern, one Texan, and ten Mesoamerican taxa, named here as new species: S. aethrinsula, S. chapina, S. cristata, S. durango, S. gigantea, S. hawksi, S. metcalfi, S. monzoni, S. obfusca, S. obrienae, S. orientalis, S. rileyi, S. sullivani, and S. veracruzensis. Additionally, one new species of Scaralis in a new subgenus, Scaralis (Alphinoides) inbio, is described from Costa Rica and Guatemala. The limited information available suggests these insects feed on oaks (Quercus). The single defining putative synapomorphy for the subtribe Calyptoproctina is the enlarged apical plate on the female abdomen, which is absent in at least two members of Scaralina, and is also present in some genera that belong outside of Poiocerinae, so we reject the recognition of this subtribe. We consider that Scaralina is probably more closely related to the genus Scaralis Stål than to Alphina Stål. Based on morphology, some species originally described in Scaralis appear to be more closely related to one another than to the type species of the genus, and are here placed in a new subgenus, Alphinoides; Scaralis fluvialis Lallemand and Scaralis nigronotata Stål, plus three species originally described in Poiocera; Scaralis quadricolor (Walker) (the type species of Alphinoides), Scaralis semilimpida (Walker), and Scaralis spectabilis (Walker). Diagnoses are given for separation of the genera Scaralis and Scaralina, as well as the subgenus Alphinoides, plus descriptions of and keys to all species of Scaralina north of Panama, as well as keys to the genera corresponding to the former subtribe "Calyptoproctina" occurring north of Panama.

Cryptic genetic diversity and associated ecological differences of Anastatus orientalis, an egg parasitoid of the spotted lanternfly

Anastatus orientalis, native to northern China, is an egg parasitoid wasp of the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) and is being tested as a potential biological control agent for invasive L. delicatula in the United States. As a component of these evaluations, live A. orientalis collected from Beijing and Yantai in China were reared in containment in the U.S. These specimens showed different responses in diapause behaviors to rearing conditions used previously by other researchers. To understand the primary mechanism potentially driving discrepancies in important life history traits, we used molecular tools to examine the genetic composition of A. orientalis from China and from South Korea, where the parasitoid has been introduced to aid in the population management of invasive L. delicatula. Molecular analysis of mitochondrial DNA recovered six haplotype groups, which exhibit biased frequency of abundance between collection sites. Some haplotypes are widespread, and others only occur in certain locations. No apparent pattern is observed between wasps collected from different years or emergence seasons. Uncorrected genetic distances between haplotype groups range from 0.44% to 1.44% after controlling for within-group variation. Genetic variance of A. orientalis is characterized by high levels of local diversity that contrasts with a lack of a broad-scale population structure. The introduced Korean population exhibits lower genetic diversity compared to native populations. Additionally, we created iso-female lines for major haplotype groups through laboratory rearing. Differences in diapause behavior were correlated with mitochondrial haplotype. Our results indicate that the observed life history traits in A. orientalis have a genetic base.

Assessing the host range of Anastatus orientalis, an egg parasitoid of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) using Eastern U.S. non-target species

The spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), an invasive planthopper discovered in Pennsylvania, U.S. in 2014, has spread to many surrounding states despite quarantines and control efforts, and further spread is anticipated. A classical (importation) biological control program would contribute to the long-term management of L. delicatula in the eastern U.S. In its native range of China, Anastatus orientalis (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), an egg parasitoid, causes significant mortality. Anastatus orientalis consists of multiple haplotypes that differ in important biological parameters. To delineate the physiological host range of A. orientalis Haplotype C, we completed no-choice and choice testing. No-choice testing of non-target eggs from 36 insect species spanning six orders and 18 families showed that physiologically this haplotype of A. orientalis can develop in a variety of host species eggs from the families Coreidae, Fulgoridae, Pentatomidae, and Saturniidae. Ten of the 16 species that were attacked in the no-choice tests were also attacked in the choice tests. The production of progeny on non-target egg masses was significantly lower than on the controls (L. delicatula egg masses run simultaneously) in the no-choice and choice tests. For the non-target species that were attacked and resulted in female wasp progeny, these females were able to produce their own progeny at the same rate as control females that were reared from the L. delicatula eggs. Larger host eggs corresponded to an increased female-biased sex ratio of the progeny, suggesting that gravid females select them for fertilized eggs. Results from these studies suggest that A. orientalis Haplotype C prefers to parasitize L. delicatula egg masses but is capable of developing in some non-target species.