Application of Beauveria bassiana conidia to spotted lanternfly forewings causes fewer infections than abdominal applications

Abstract

Adult spotted lanternflies (Lycorma delicatula) were differentially susceptible to Beauveria bassiana when inoculated with conidia on the distal ventral abdomen versus distal forewings. More adults inoculated on the abdomens died of B. bassiana infections than those inoculated on the wings. Abdominal inoculants also died more quickly than wing inoculants. Due to the large dorsal forewings of these planthoppers, typically covering abdomen and thorax, we suggest that the wings can at least partially protect from dorsal sprays of an infectious Hypocreales; we hypothesize that spraying surfaces on which SLF stand could be more efficacious than spraying these insects with their bodies shielded by their wings.