Birds avoid spotted lanternflies fed on invasive plants

Hungry birds avoid snacking on spotted lanternflies after the insects have been feasting on tree of heaven plants. Both invasive species from Asia, the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is the spotted lanternfly’s (Lycorma delicatula) preferred host. Researchers from The Pennsylvania State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences placed insects on top of boxes occupied by house wrens (Troglodytes aedon) and found that birds were less likely to choose lanternflies reared on tree of heaven. They also ground up adult lanternflies reared with and without the plant and incorporated them into bird feeders. The bird feed with lanternflies that hadn’t eaten tree of heaven had more visits from birds compared to the other bird feed. The researchers isolated toxins called quassinoids from the lanternflies, which they think the insects are getting from tree of heaven. In an interview with the university, coauthor Anne Johnson said the results suggest that “the insects that consume this plant are less tasty, thereby providing some chemical defenses against avian predators.” Despite the distaste, some birds and other insects still feed on lanternflies in the wild, and the researchers next step is to better understand the conditions in which this predation occurs. 

Read more at The Pennsylvania State University.