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What the sources say

Spotted LanternflyLycorma delicatula

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Spotted Lanternfly profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 66 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Lycorma delicatula. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.

The page saysA planthopper, not a moth, that turns red as it stocks up on its host tree's chemical defences.
The source saysAdult spotted lanternflies can be confused for mothsNote: tagline, not a moth
The page saysFruit, ornamental and other woody trees and vines; native to Asia, and listed in 2020 as invasive in Korea, Japan and the United States
The source saysnative to China, Taiwan, India, and Vietnam. The species is invasive to Korea, Japan, and the United StatesNote: stats.habitat, range
The page saysFruit, ornamental and other woody trees and vines; native to Asia, and listed in 2020 as invasive in Korea, Japan and the United States
The source saysSpotted lanternflies can be found on more than 70 species of plants, including fruit trees, ornamental trees, woody trees, and vines.Note: stats.habitat, trees and vines
The page saysPhloem sap
The source saysSpotted lanternflies are known to feed upon the sap in the phloemNote: stats.diet; ADW's 'known to' is its idiom for an established feeding habit
The page sayswith tree of heaven the favourite
The source saysTrees of heaven are their preferred host plant.Note: stats.diet
The page saysNot Evaluated
The source saysIUCN Red List No special statusNote: The prefetch found no IUCN assessment DOI for Lycorma delicatula and GBIF holds no category for it; no IUCN reference is cited. ADW's IUCN line anchors the row, as in the llama precedent.
The page saysThe spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, is neither a fly nor a moth.
The source saysAdult spotted lanternflies can be confused for mothsNote: body para 1
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web warns that adults can be confused for moths.
The source saysAdult spotted lanternflies can be confused for moths
The page saysthe final nymph stage
The source saysNymphs in the fourth and final instar have yellow-ish white spots and a reddish color.
The page saysAdults hide back wings that are bright red near the body
The source saysBack wings are black-tipped, white in the center, and bright red near the body.
The page saysand show only in flight.
The source saysThe abdomen and back wings can only be seen when in flight.
The page saysAdult females are 24 to 27 mm long and males are 21 to 22 mm, according to Animal Diversity Web.
The source saysFemales are 24-27 mm in length, while males are 21-22 mm.
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web lists the species as univoltine, meaning one generation a year.
The source saysSpotted lanternflies are a univoltine speciesNote: The gloss 'one generation a year' is the standard meaning of univoltine; ADW also says Breeding interval Once yearly.
The page saysFemales lay eggs from August to early November, and the eggs overwinter.
The source saysEggs are laid from August to early November and overwinter.
The page saysThe lanternfly is native to China, Taiwan, India and Vietnam, and in 2020 Animal Diversity Web listed it as invasive in Korea, Japan and the United States.
The source saysnative to China, Taiwan, India, and Vietnam. The species is invasive to Korea, Japan, and the United States.Note: 2020 is the ADW account's citation date, claimed in its own entry
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web places it in the order Hemiptera
The source saysClass Insecta insects Order Hemiptera Family FulgoridaeNote: faq 1; ADW lists the order in its classification table
The page saysAdults can be confused for moths, though.
The source saysAdult spotted lanternflies can be confused for moths
The page saysan invasive tree
The source saysBoth nymphs and adults feed upon trees of heaven , an invasive plant species.Note: 'invasive' for tree of heaven
The page saysin 2020 Animal Diversity Web listed it
The source saysHauze, D. 2020. "Lycorma delicatula" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.Note: ADW account date, for the invasion extent
The page sayslisted in 2020 as invasive
The source saysHauze, D. 2020. "Lycorma delicatula" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.Note: stats.habitat, task #1254: the ADW account date

Source
02

Song et al. 2018

Song et al. (2018). Defense sequestration associated with narrowing of diet and ontogenetic change to aposematic colours in the spotted lanternfly. Scientific Reports.

The page saysA planthopper, not a moth, that turns red as it stocks up on its host tree's chemical defences.
The source saysthe narrowing of host preferences by lanternflies synchronizes the timing of change to red colour with the acquisition of quassinoid defensesNote: tagline, red half
The page saysStores a defensive chemical from tree of heaven, and birds in a study avoided lanternflies collected from it
The source saysailanthone, the main quassinoid sequestered from Ailanthus by lanternfliesNote: stats.superpower, stored chemical
The page saysStores a defensive chemical from tree of heaven, and birds in a study avoided lanternflies collected from it
The source saysbirds taste-avoided lanternflies collected on Ailanthus but not those collected on the secondary hostsNote: stats.superpower, birds
The page saysA 2018 study
The source saysReceived 2018 Jun 18; Accepted 2018 Oct 24Note: year of the paper
The page sayslinked the switch to red with the insect narrowing its diet mainly to the tree of heaven, an invasive tree defended by chemicals called quassinoids.
The source sayschange to red colouration when they narrow their host plant preferences to primarily the tree of heaven ( Ailanthus altissima ; Simaroubaceae), which is chemically defended by quassinoids
The page saysThe lanternflies keep one of them, ailanthone, in their bodies.
The source saysailanthone, the main quassinoid sequestered from Ailanthus by lanternflies as shown through mass spectrometry analyses
The page saysBright colours on a distasteful animal warn predators off, a strategy called aposematism.
The source saysBright colours in distasteful prey warn off predators
The page saysBright colours on a distasteful animal warn predators off, a strategy called aposematism.
The source saysAposematism is an antipredatory strategy that involves chemically (or otherwise) defended unpalatable prey developing conspicuous signals
The page saysIn taste trials, birds shunned lanternflies gathered from tree of heaven but not ones gathered from other host plants.
The source saysbirds taste-avoided lanternflies collected on Ailanthus but not those collected on the secondary hosts

Source
03

Li et al. 2023

Li et al. (2023). Putting a new spin on insect jumping performance using 3D modeling and computer simulations of spotted lanternfly nymphs. Journal of Experimental Biology.

The page saysHigh-speed video of nymphs jumping in a lab showed take-off speeds of 2.7 to 3.4 metres per second and accelerations of 800 to 1,000 metres per second squared, from fast hind-leg extensions.
The source saysThese insects used rapid hindleg extensions to achieve high take-off speeds (2.7–3.4 m s −1 ) and accelerations (800–1000 m s −2 )
The page saysThey spun in mid-air at 5 to 45 turns per second, yet landed successfully in 58.9 percent of trials.
The source saysDespite rotating rapidly (5–45 Hz) about time-varying axes of rotation, they landed successfully in 58.9% of trials.
The page saysHigh-speed video of nymphs jumping in a lab
The source saysIn the laboratory, we recorded high-speed 3D video for spotted lanternfly nymphs jumping from a raised platformNote: lab scope; third and fourth instar nymphs
The page sayswhirl at 5 to 45 turns a second in mid-air
The source saysDespite rotating rapidly (5–45 Hz) about time-varying axes of rotation, they landed successfully in 58.9% of trials.Note: vibe.reason; same quote as the body sentence "They spun in mid-air at 5 to 45 turns per second, yet landed successfully in 58."
The page saysland successfully in 58.9 percent of trials
The source saysDespite rotating rapidly (5–45 Hz) about time-varying axes of rotation, they landed successfully in 58.9% of trials.Note: vibe.reason; same quote as the body sentence "They spun in mid-air at 5 to 45 turns per second, yet landed successfully in 58."

Source
04

Kane et al. 2021

Kane et al. (2021). Many ways to land upright: novel righting strategies allow spotted lanternfly nymphs to land on diverse substrates. Journal of The Royal Society Interface.

The page saysNymphs land at varying angles, then flip upright as they bounce, using body rotations, foot adhesion and leg motions.
The source saysSLF nymphs impacted the surface at varying angles and then self-righted during the rebound using coordinated body rotations, foot-substrate adhesion and active leg motions.
The page saysThe authors say they take advantage of near-total energy loss on impact.
The source saysnovel post-impact mechanisms that take advantage of their ability to experience near-total energy loss on impact
The page saysA second study dropped nymphs and filmed them landing.
The source saysSpecimens were dropped artificially (i.e., either from tweezers or manually) from a uniform height of 200 mmNote: methods; the abstract says high-speed video of nymphs released under different conditions

Source
05

Kreitman et al. 2023

Kreitman et al. (2023). The impact of host plant species on instar duration and body weight of nymphal Lycorma delicatula. Frontiers in Insect Science.

The page saysIn a lab study in which nymphs were reared on tree of heaven, newly moulted adult males averaged 0.120 g and females 0.175 g.
The source saysWeight (g) 0.120 ± 0.003b (32) 0.175 ± 0.006a (14)Note: Table 2, Ailanthus altissima columns, male then female; adults reared at 25 C on tree of heaven in 2020. The cached table text puts each cell on its own line.
The page saysnewly moulted adult males
The source saysAny newly molted nymphs were removed from the cages, weighed, and then preserved by freezing for later sexing.Note: adults weighed on moulting
The page saysIn a lab study in which nymphs were reared on tree of heaven
The source saysNymphs and egg masses were collected to assess each instar’s rate of development at a constant temperature of 25°CNote: constant-temperature rearing, lab scope

Source
06

Liu 2019

Liu (2019). Oviposition Substrate Selection, Egg Mass Characteristics, Host Preference, and Life History of the Spotted Lanternfly (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) in North America. Environmental Entomology.

The page saysIn a Pennsylvania study from 2016 to 2017
The source saysstudied in Pennsylvania between 2016 and 2017
The page saysegg masses held up to 192 eggs, though 91.8 percent held under 50.
The source saysEgg mass size ranged between 0 and 192 eggs/egg mass, with 91.8% containing <50 eggs.Note: '<50' in the abstract is 'fewer than 50'
The page saysEggs hatched between 2 May and 5 June
The source saysEggs hatched between May 2 and June 5
The page saysand the adult stage ran from 24 July to 15 November, 114 days.
The source saysand adults lasted for 62 (2 May-3 July), 42 (8 June-20 July), 35 (26 June-31 July), 39 (10 July-18 Aug.), and 114 (24 July-15 Nov.) days
The page saysAdults spent about two months feeding, then laid eggs in early October.
The source saysAdult feed for 2 months before laying eggs in early October.

Source
07

Clifton et al. 2019

Clifton et al. (2019). A pair of native fungal pathogens drives decline of a new invasive herbivore. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The page saysin a 2019 study
The source saysCopyright © 2019 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.Note: year of the paper
The page saystwo native fungi caused a local outbreak of lanternflies in the eastern United States to collapse.
The source saysTwo North American fungal pathogens caused a coepizootic leading to localized collapse of an outbreak population of the newly invasive planthopper pest, the spotted lanternfly ( Lycorma delicatula ), in the eastern United States.

Source
08

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences

Spotted lanternfly lore: Penn State experts clear up falsehoods about pest. Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences.

The page saysPhloem sap from more than 100 kinds of plants
The source saysspotted lanternflies will feed on more than 100 species of trees and other plantsNote: stats.diet, count
The page saysIt feeds with piercing-sucking mouthparts that work like a tiny straw.
The source saysSpotted lanternflies have piercing-sucking mouthparts that function like a tiny straw
The page saysThird-stage nymphs are black with white spots, but fourth-stage nymphs, the final nymph stage, are red with white spots.
The source saysThe third instar nymphs are black with white spots, while the fourth instar nymphs are red with white spots.
The page saysRecent research suggests it rarely kills them,
The source saysrecent discoveries suggest they rarely kill them
The page saysand it is not known to bite or sting.
The source saysSpotted lanternflies are not known to bite or sting or attack people, pets or livestock
The page saysIts sugary waste, called honeydew, feeds sooty mold.
The source saysit does leave behind sugary excrement called honeydew, which promotes the growth of sooty mold
The page saysPenn State entomologist Julie Urban says they are not known to bite, sting or attack people, pets or livestock.
The source saysSpotted lanternflies are not known to bite or sting or attack people, pets or livestock, noted Urban.Note: faq 2
The page saysShe adds that their straw-like mouthparts cannot get through human or animal skin.
The source saysthese mouthparts are not capable of penetrating human or animal skinNote: 'cannot get through' paraphrases 'not capable of penetrating'
The page saysUsually not, according to Penn State in 2022.
The source saysPublished: January 4, 2022
The page saysResearchers there say recent discoveries suggest it rarely kills the 100-plus plant species it feeds on.
The source saysspotted lanternflies will feed on more than 100 species of trees and other plants, recent discoveries suggest they rarely kill them
The page saysThe two exceptions they named are cultivated grapes and the tree of heaven.
The source saysThere are two exceptions: cultivated grapes, which is a grave concern to vineyard operators in Pennsylvania and beyond; and Ailanthus altissima, known as tree of heaven
The page saysPenn State reported in 2022 that it feeds on more than 100 plant species.
The source saysspotted lanternflies will feed on more than 100 species of trees and other plantsNote: 2022 is the page's 'Published: January 4, 2022', claimed in its own entry
The page saysShe adds that their straw-like mouthparts
The source saysSpotted lanternflies have piercing-sucking mouthparts that function like a tiny strawNote: faq 2

Source
09

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Spotted Lanternfly. Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

The page saysA planthopper, not a moth, that turns red as it stocks up on its host tree's chemical defences.
The source saysan invasive planthopper native to AsiaNote: tagline, planthopper half
The page saysThe Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture calls it an invasive planthopper.
The source saysan invasive planthopper native to Asia
The page saysIt was first discovered in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014.
The source saysfirst discovered in PA in Berks County in 2014
The page saysthe Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture calls it a planthopper.
The source saysan invasive planthopper native to Asia

Source
10

California Department of Food and Agriculture

Spotted Lanternfly. California Department of Food and Agriculture.

The page saysCalifornia's agriculture department says it can walk, jump or fly short distances, but its long-distance spread is helped by people who move infested items.
The source saysWhile the insect can walk, jump, or fly short distances, its long-distance spread is facilitated by people who move infested material or items containing egg masses.
The page saysIt lays eggs on almost any surface, including vehicles and outdoor equipment.
The source saysThe spotted lanternfly lays eggs on almost any surface, including vehicles, trailers, outdoor equipment, and patio furniture.

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.