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Context-Dependent Anti-Predator Behavior in Nymphs of the Invasive Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula): Effects of Development, Microhabitat, and Social Environment
Department of Natural Sciences, Fordham University, New York, NY 10023, USA
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Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Insects 2025, 16(8), 815; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16080815
Submission received: 16 July 2025
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Revised: 3 August 2025
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Accepted: 4 August 2025
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Published: 6 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Insect Behavior and Pathology)
Simple Summary
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect from China that is rapidly increasing its distribution in the United States. Spotted lanternfly nymphs go through four developmental stages, changing color from black with white spots to bright red as they mature. Understanding how these insects avoid predators could help scientists develop better control strategies. This study examined how spotted lanternfly nymphs react when threatened by predators. We simulated predator attacks and recorded three main responses: hiding behind plant parts, sidestepping, or jumping. The results showed that nymphs on stems were much more likely to hide than those on leaves, but they became less likely to hide and more likely to sidestep as they became older. Young nymphs were more likely to jump from plants that were not tree of heaven, their preferred host plant. When many spotted lanternflies nymphs were clustered together, individuals were less likely to hide, possibly because of perceived safety in numbers. These findings reveal that spotted lanternflies use flexible defense strategies that change as they develop. This knowledge could help pest control experts predict where and when these insects are most vulnerable, leading to more targeted management approaches that protect agricultural crops and native ecosystems.
Abstract
Antipredator behaviors in animals often vary with developmental stage, microhabitat, and social context, yet few studies examine how these factors interact in species that undergo ontogenetic shifts in chemical defense. The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive planthopper whose nymphs transition from cryptically colored early instars to aposematically colored fourth instars that feed primarily on chemically defended host plants. We conducted 1460 simulated predator attacks on nymphs across four developmental stages to examine how antipredator behavior varies with instar, plant location (leaf vs. stem), host plant species, and local conspecific density. Nymphs exhibited three primary responses: hiding, sidestepping, or jumping. We found that location on the plant had the strongest effect, with nymphs on stems more likely to hide than those on leaves. Older instars were significantly less likely to hide and more likely to sidestep, particularly on stems, suggesting reduced reliance on energetically costly escape behaviors as chemical defenses accumulate. First instars were less likely to jump from their preferred host plant (tree of heaven) compared to other plant species. Higher local conspecific density reduced hiding probability, likely due to the dilution effect. These results demonstrate that antipredator strategies in L. delicatula are flexibly deployed based on developmental stage, microhabitat structure, and social context, with implications for understanding evolution of antipredator behavior in chemically protected species.
