I’ve posted a few pics of the invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) on Instagram but thought I’d feature my full collection in a post. The insect is extremely photogenic but it’s also good to let people know what different stages look like so that everyone can kill them. I still need some early-instar pics as well as some showing spotted lanternflies being consumed by parasites and fungi.
Adult showing colorful underwings. Presumably to advertise toxicity to predators. Binky Lee Preserve, Chester Springs, PA.
Gravid female. John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, Tinicum, PA.
Egg mass on a tree. The surface is a waxy substance that covers several rows of eggs. John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, Tinicum, PA.
Three adults on a tree. Trees can have thousands. Binky Lee Preserve, Chester Springs, PA.
Sap oozing from feeding site wound. Ailanthus tree. Rose Tree Park, Media, PA.
Slick at base of Ailanthus tree caused by dripping honeydew (sugary excrement). Rose Tree Park, Media, PA.
Adult caught in spider web. Hildacy Preserve, Media, PA.
Below is a map showing the distribution of spotted lanternflies in North America as of October 3rd, 2019. Here’s a current map. To add a sighting, please sign up for iNaturalist (free) and post a photograph.
Here’s what the distribution is likely to be in the future (per Wakie et al. 2019):
Health officials love to remind people to wear pants and use CDC-approved repellents, but they tend to shy away from telling the public what doesn’t work. As a result, millions of people embrace ineffective techniques and gimmicks that waste money and expose family members to mosquito-borne diseases. So I thought I’d make a list of the top myths and scams just in case skeptical people want details.
1. Mosquito-repelling plants
Despite claims made by influential, wholesome gardening folks on Facebook, there are no plants that repel mosquitoes. The plant marketed as the “mosquito plant” is no exception.
2. Bug Zappers
These devices make a satisfying crackle but if you dump all the carcasses on a table and sort them, you’ll find that only a very small fraction of the victims are mosquitoes. In one study, 0.22% were mosquitoes. Mostly you’ve just electrocuted thousands of small, defenseless moths and night-active beetles. More details.
These don’t appear to work. I’ve tried two different models and splurged on the optional lure but only succeeded in killing large numbers of moths, beetles, and other innocent insects (and thus depriving local birds of food). If you’re still on the fence read some of the 1-star reviews on Amazon.
5. Citronella candles
Citronella candles, coils, and torches only seem to work if you surround yourself with a lot of them, ideally in a protected area so that wind doesn’t dissipate the smoke. The fire and smell combine to activate a strong placebo effect in people who are susceptible to gimmicks.
6. Ultrasonic devices and apps
None of these have been found to work (details). The FTC has taken some companies to court. There is, however, a device called The Mosquito that is effective at repelling teenagers.
7. Listerine
Just another internet rumor started by somebody with too much free time.
8. Bounce dryer sheets
Per one study fungus gnats (which don’t bite) were mildly repelled by dryer sheets. I’d wager these sheets might actually be attractive to mosquitoes because some species home-in on perfumes.
9. Wrist bands with natural oils
At best, wrist bands will reduce the number of mosquito bites on your wrist simply because they can’t bite through the plastic. But they will not emit enough volatile compounds to shield the rest of you. NB: currently there are no wristbands that contain DEET or other CDC-approved repellent. Details.
10. Stickers laced with natural oils
Stickers only prevent mosquitoes from biting the flesh directly underneath the sticker. You’d need an awful lot of stickers for full protection. Note, same conclusion for the stickers that claim to infuse your bloodstream with B1.
Below is a series of photographs of a cuckoo wasp (likely Caenochrysis sp.) attempting to gain entrance to a nest of Trypoxylon collinum (Crabonidae) to oviposit. Normally the cuckoo wasp will just wait until the nest is empty, but on this occasion she took more active measures. The nest is inside a section of Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot) and is packed full of paralyzed spiders.
The first photographs shows the cuckoo wasp slowly approaching while the guarding male gnashes his mandibles and looks threatening. This goes on for several minutes. The cuckoo wasp just gets closer and closer.
Finally the cuckoo wasp is close enough that the male lunges out. It was so fast he’s just a blur. The cuckoo wasp doesn’t back up.
The male continues to parry with the cuckoo wasp, which also is equipped with formidable mandibles. At no point during this interaction do I see the cuckoo wasp back up. She’s completely calm.
Here’s where I was surprised. Out of nowhere the female Trypoxylon wasp comes back and the male immediately leaves the nest to escort her back inside the stem (as he always does). In that instant the cuckoo wasp darts inside to oviposit. I didn’t catch any of this drama but the photograph below shows the male outside the nest and the female inside (you can see her head). They must surely know there’s a parasitic wasp inside, laying eggs, right?
Now comes the part where the female disappears into the nest for a few seconds. I can hear loud buzzing. Then the female leaves and the male goes back inside. The cuckoo wasp is still inside.
The final photograph is the male glaring at me. The cuckoo was is still inside the nest because I can hear her buzzing. After about 20 minutes I can still hear her. Then it becomes quiet. The tube was walled up the following day so I’m guessing the trypoxylons entombed the cuckoo wasp. I can’t confirm this, however, because the two days later when I checked the tube it was uncapped. Perhaps the cuckoo wasp recovered from being paralyzed or damaged and chewed her way out, or maybe a bird came and pecked away the cap — there’s no way to know.
In researching this phenomenon I found one paper with good detail about how cuckoo wasps gain entry to the nest. According to Muschini and Donatti (2012), a Chrysididae will approach a nest of Trypoxylon agamemnom from the top and then attempt to slide in between the male’s antennae. I would love to see a video of that.
