Spotted Lanternfly Life Cycle
Spotted Lanternflies go through many changes during their life cycle from egg mass to adult. Egg Masses, or Egg Cases as they are sometimes referred to, are the typical form in which one may find the eggs of a Spotted Lanternfly after they've been laid. Laying their eggs in these masses allow them to withstand the brutal winter cold. Eggs in the eggmasses can typically withstand subzero temperatures. This is in contrast to adult Spotted Lanternflies themselves which typically die off after the first hard freeze of the season.
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| Life Cycle of SLF with Instars. |
Each egg mass placed by a SLF contains 30-60 individual eggs and are typically found deposited on tree trunks, tree limbs, rocks, fences, automobiles, and other relatively flat, and usually vertical, surfaces. The high number of eggs per mass is also why you often hear the saying, "Killing just one fly this year prevents up to 50 more next year!".
Spotted Lanternfly Instars
The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) goes through four instar stages before reaching adulthood after they emerge from the egg masses. Instar refers to the developmental stages the insect goes through before reaching its final adult stage. Here's a closer look at each of these stages:
FIRST LANTERNFLY INSTAR
The first instar is the smallest and begins when the spotted lanternfly hatches from its egg mass. The first instar of the spotted lanternfly nymph is the first stage after hatching from the egg. At this stage, the nymph is tiny, measuring only 1.5-3 mm in length. The nymph is black with white spots, and its body is elongated and cylindrical in shape. The nymph has six legs and two antennae, which are longer than the body.
During this stage, the nymph does not have wings and is unable to fly. Instead, it crawls on plants using its legs and feeds on the sap of the host plant. The nymph pierces the plant's bark with its mouthpart, called a stylet, and sucks the sap out. The nymph excretes a sugary waste product called honeydew, which attracts other insects, including ants.
The first instar of the spotted lanternfly is particularly vulnerable to predators and environmental factors. Therefore, it often uses its mimicking ability to appear as a harmless organism. The nymph mimics other insects, such as stink bugs, which are known to be distasteful to predators. The nymph also uses its coloration to blend in with the host plant, making it difficult for predators to spot.
As the nymph grows, it will go through four more instars, each time molting its skin and growing larger. In each subsequent instar, the nymph's appearance changes, and it becomes more visible and less vulnerable to predators. The spotted lanternfly nymph will remain in the nymph stage for several weeks before molting into its adult form, where it will develop wings and become capable of flying.
SECOND LANTERNFLY INSTAR
The second instar of the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is the second stage in the nymphal life cycle. At this stage, the nymph has molted its skin from the first instar and has grown larger. The second instar nymph measures approximately 4-5 mm in length and has a black body with white spots. The nymph's body is still elongated and cylindrical in shape, and it has six legs and two long antennae.
During the second instar stage, the nymph continues to feed on the sap of the host plant using its piercing-sucking mouthparts. The nymphs are known to feed on a wide range of host plants, including trees such as maples, oaks, and willows, as well as fruit trees and grapevines.
One significant change that occurs during the second instar stage is the development of wing buds. The wing buds are small, flat, and translucent structures on the nymph's back that will eventually develop into wings. While the nymph is not yet capable of flight, the development of the wing buds is an important milestone in its development.
Another notable feature of the second instar nymph is the development of the characteristic white spots. The white spots are located on the nymph's black body and are larger and more defined than those of the first instar nymph. The spots serve as a defense mechanism, making the nymph appear unappetizing to potential predators.
Like the first instar nymph, the second instar is also vulnerable to predators and environmental factors. The nymph will continue to use its mimicking ability to appear as a distasteful insect to deter predators. Additionally, the nymph will remain in close proximity to its host plant, where it can feed and hide from potential predators.
The second instar stage lasts for several weeks before the nymph molts again into the third instar.
THIRD LANTERNFLY INSTAR
The third instar of the spotted lanternfly is the final stage of its nymphal development before it molts into an adult. At this stage, the nymph is approximately 1 cm in length and has a black body with white spots and red patches on its wings. Its head is yellow with black spots, and its legs are black with white spots.
During the third instar, the spotted lanternfly feeds voraciously on plant sap, which can cause significant damage to trees and plants. The insect uses its piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract sap from the stems, leaves, and bark of various trees, including grapevine, apple, maple, oak, and walnut.
The third instar nymphs are highly mobile and can jump up to 2 feet, making it easy for them to move from plant to plant. They are also capable of producing honeydew, a sugary substance that can attract other insects, such as ants, wasps, and bees. The honeydew can also promote the growth of sooty mold, which can further damage plants.
As the nymph grows and develops, it will eventually reach its final instar, after which it will molt into an adult spotted lanternfly.
FOURTH LANTERNFLY INSTAR
The fourth instar of the spotted lanternfly is the largest and most noticeable of all the instars. It is approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) long and has a distinctive black and white spotted pattern on its wings, head, and body. The wings have black spots on a white background, while the body has black spots on a bright red background. The fourth instar also has six legs and two antennae. During the fourth instar, the spotted lanternfly feeds voraciously on the sap of trees and other plants. It uses its piercing-sucking mouthparts to pierce the bark and suck out the sap. This can cause significant damage to the host plant, leading to wilting, stunted growth, and death.
The fourth instar is also the most mobile of all the instars. It can move quickly and jump long distances using its powerful legs. This makes it more difficult to control than the earlier instars.The fourth instar undergoes one final molt before reaching adulthood. During this process, it sheds its outer skin or exoskeleton and emerges as an adult. The adult spotted lanternfly is larger and has more pronounced wings than the fourth instar. While the fourth instar does not reproduce, it is the last stage before the insect becomes sexually mature. Adult spotted lanternflies mate and lay eggs on trees and other surfaces in the fall. The eggs then overwinter and hatch into the first instar in the spring.
It's worth noting that the length of each instar stage can vary depending on factors such as temperature, humidity, and food availability. In general, however, the entire development process from egg to adult takes about four months.
ADULT LANTERNFLY
The adult phase of the spotted lanternfly lasts for several weeks and typically occurs in the late summer or early fall, depending on the climate and geographic location. During this phase, the adult insects emerge from their nymphal stage, during which they molted several times and underwent gradual changes in their appearance and behavior.
The adult spotted lanternfly is a distinctive insect, measuring approximately one inch in length and featuring wings that are brightly colored and patterned with black spots and patches of red, gray, and brown. The insect's body is a light brownish-gray color, and it has a pair of long antennae that help it to detect its surroundings.
Once the adult spotted lanternfly has emerged from its nymphal stage, its primary focus is on mating and reproduction. The insects are sexually dimorphic, with males and females exhibiting different physical characteristics and behaviors.
Male spotted lanternflies typically fly in search of females, using their antennae to detect pheromones that signal the presence of a mate. Once a male has located a female, he will attempt to court her by vibrating his wings and emitting a distinctive sound that is thought to be attractive to females.
Once the female has accepted a mate, she will begin to lay eggs, typically on a smooth surface such as a tree trunk, rock, or building. Each female can lay up to several egg masses, each of which contains up to 50 eggs. The eggs are typically laid in the late fall or early winter and will hatch the following spring, giving rise to a new generation of nymphs.