Predation efficiency of praying mantises as important natural enemies of spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula

The spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), has emerged as a globally important invasive insect pest, causing extensive damage to grapevines and ornamental plants in its invasive range. Praying mantises are commonly found in many native habitats of the spotted lanternfly in China. However, the role of predatory natural enemies such as mantises and their predatory efficiency as biological control agents for spotted lanternfly in this region is unknown. The predation efficiency of the five most common praying mantis species in northern China-Hierodula petellifera, Mantis religiosa, Statilia maculata, Tenodera angustipennis, and Tenodera sinensis (Mantodea: Mantidae) were evaluated-by measuring their functional responses to adult spotted lanternflies under controlled conditions. In addition, the intraspecific interference in predators were also examined by exposing a fixed ratio of mantis to prey densities.

Both final instars and adults of all five species of mantis were found to readily prey upon spotted lanternfly adults, and their feeding rates increased linearly with prey abundance within the tested spotted lanternfly densities. Mutual interference by all tested mantid species was observed with increased predator density. Overall, T. sinensis, the largest-bodied mantis tested, consumed more spotted lanternflies than other species, and T. sinensis adults were more efficient predators than their final instars.

Our results show that praying mantises are important natural enemies of spotted lanternfly adults in their native range in China. These findings also provide insights into the potential efficacy of different mantis species as biocontrol agents for the spotted lanternfly and could be incorporated into future integrated pest management programs against this invasive pest. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.