Birds biting bad bugs: Using community science to learn about predators of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) in North America

Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula, SLF) is an invasive planthopper that, since its introduction to Berks County, PA, in 2014, has spread through much of the northeastern and midwestern United States. This is concerning, as SLF has the potential to affect the viticultural, ornamental, and timber industries as well as impact our native wildlife as it may be capable of toxin sequestration. To determine what is preying on spotted lanternfly and how predator type, SLF life stage, and host plants play a role in the predators’ reactions to feeding on SLF, we used a community science approach in which we asked people to post or email us the common name of the predator, the time and location of the predation event, feeding behaviors performed by the predator, and any additional information, such as host plants or photos, which the reporter desired to provide. Of these reports, 50.42% were of arthropods, with the 3 most reported orders being Araneae, Mantodea, and Hymenoptera, while 41.41% were of birds, with the 3 most reported families being Phasianidae, Cardinalidae, and Mimidae. Using Pearson’s Chi-square tests, we found significant relationships between predator behavior and predator type (p < 0.001), predator behavior and SLF life stage (p < 0.001), and predator behavior and host plant (p < 0.001). These findings have implications for SLF management, such as through conservation biological control.