Agricultural Sciences

Penn State scientists educate national grape organization on spotted lanternfly

Julie Urban, associate research professor of entomology at Penn State, points to a modified spotted lanternfly pole trap built by Brian Walsh, extension horticulture educator. She explains how spotted lanternflies come into contact with deltamethrin-treated netting at the top of the trap, causing them to fall into the catch basket for counting. Randy Heinzen of Vineyard Professional Services in California, Liz Deecher, research technologist, and Michela Centinari, associate professor of viticulture, are also shown. Credit: Holly Shugart / Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Members of the National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA), a national nonprofit organization that supports America’s grape industry, joined Penn State’s spotted lanternfly research and extension team this fall for a two-day field trip to address the growing threat of the invasive pest jeopardizing the U.S. grape industry.

The spotted lanternfly, a planthopper native to Asia, first was discovered in the U.S. in Berks County in 2014. Since then, it has spread to several surrounding states, becoming a significant problem in vineyards. The pest feeds on grapevines, which weakens plants, reduces grape yields and sometimes kills vines.

In addition to its direct feeding damage, the lanternfly produces honeydew, a sticky excrement that fosters the growth of sooty mold. This mold coats leaves and fruit, impeding photosynthesis and diminishing grape quality. As a result, grape growers in affected regions face crop losses, increased labor costs and higher expenses for pest management.

The economic consequences could be substantial, as the U.S. wine and grape industry plays a vital role in the economy. According to a study by WineAmerica, the American wine industry generates close to $276.07 billion in total economic activity and includes 10,637 wine producers in all 50 states and 119,520 acres of vineyards.

According to the Pennsylvania Wine Marketing and Research Program, in 2023 Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for grape production, with 10,756 jobs directly tied to the industry and an overall direct economic impact of $1.77 billion.

Julie Urban, associate research professor of entomology in the College of Agricultural Sciences, and Brian Walsh, a Penn State Extension horticulture educator, organized the tour, which featured visits to Berks County-area vineyards to observe spotted lanternfly infestations, with adult spotted lanternfly feeding and laying eggs on the vines. Attendees heard directly from growers who have been refining the management of this pest for the past decade.

“Growers discussed how the sudden appearance of dozens of adult spotted lanternflies per vine during harvest season create a significant challenge to maintaining the health of their vines,” Urban said. “Beyond simply seeing the insect, the NGRA group gained invaluable insight by hearing firsthand from affected growers and stakeholders. These personal accounts underscored the real-world challenges and strategies for tackling this invasive threat.”

The group also visited a commercial nursery and an apple orchard near the site of the pest’s arrival in 2014 and learned of the owner’s experiences. They met with Natural Resource Specialist Brianna Treichler of the Army Corps of Engineers Blue Marsh Lake Project, a national recreation area in Berks County, who has worked with Walsh and the Penn State team on insecticide research conducted at that site.

Collaborators, including regulators from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, New York Ag and Markets, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, joined the field trip to hear from stakeholders and share their perspectives and experiences on spotted lanternfly management.

Additionally, researchers from Virginia Tech, the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Appalachian Fruit Station, Cornell University and multiple Penn State locations, including the Lake Erie Regional Grape Research and Extension Center, contributed their expertise, emphasizing the need for a coordinated, multi-state effort to combat the invasive insect.

During the event, the Penn State team shared updates on ongoing research focused on spotted lanternflies and grapes. They demonstrated that while the term “collapse” has been used to describe the lanternfly population in many early-infested areas, populations can rebound locally and remain a consistent threat to vineyards in the fall.

Members of the NGRA group — including President Donnell Brown, Eric Pooler of the Sonoma County Vineyard Technical Group/Nuveen Natural Capital in California, Nick Dokoozlian of Gallo Winery in California, Randy Heinzen of Vineyard Professional Services in California, and John Martini of the Anthony Road Wine Company in New York — said the visit gave them a better understanding of the threat spotted lanternflies pose to grape production.

“We hope to galvanize a united response to the tremendous pest issue that’s [Pennsylvania’s] reality and our future,” Heinzen said.

Following the visit, Pooler organized two California Farm Bureau-sponsored meetings in November. Urban and Walsh presented to more than 200 grape growers in Sonoma and Napa valleys. Urban also will speak at the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium in January and at a future NGRA board of directors’ meeting.

“Hosting this event was important in helping to educate this industry,” Walsh said. “Our understanding of the threat that lanternflies present has been refined with time, and the industry most threatened is grapes nationwide. We hope that by learning from our growers’ experiences, growers in other states can better prepare for and manage the challenges of the spotted lanternfly in their regions. Researchers can use lessons learned to guide new studies.”

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences leads a comprehensive research program on the spotted lanternfly, addressing the pest’s biology, behavior and management. Researchers are developing effective control strategies, studying the insect’s life cycle, and assessing its impact on agriculture, forestry and ecosystems.

The program emphasizes integrated pest management techniques and biological controls while advising on chemical control methods when necessary. Researchers collaborate with other universities, government agencies, industry partners and growers to deliver timely information and practical solutions, helping mitigate the damage caused by this invasive species and protecting vital industry resources such as vineyards, orchards and timber.

Last Updated December 18, 2024

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