From temperate invasives to tropical natives: novel resource subsidies, habitat use, and niche differentiation of lanternflies (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae)

Lanternflies (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) are phloem-feeding insects found in temperate and tropical regions worldwide, yet despite their conspicuous appearance, many aspects of their ecology remain poorly documented. The invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is the most intensively studied species due to the ecological and economic concerns associated with its spread, although its indirect or secondary effects on native communities are not well understood. At the same time, many native fulgorids in tropical forests remain understudied despite their diversity and strong associations with particular host plants. This dissertation examines lanternfly ecology in two systems shaped by human activities: an invaded temperate forest and a fragmented tropical forest. Within these systems, I use three projects that span consumer–resource interactions, individual habitat use, and niche differentiation among co-occurring species. First, I examine how invertebrates exploit honeydew resources produced by L. delicatula feeding on the invasive tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima). We find that Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, and ants) were the dominant group feeding on honeydew, and that the abundance of L. delicatula and the ambient temperature were the strongest predictors determining Hymenoptera community composition. Second, I investigated habitat use and individual behavior of the tropical lanternfly, Enchophora sanguinea, in a lowland Costa Rican forest. Using photographic capture-recapture, I quantified individual patterns and residence times, revealing sex-specific differences in habitat use. Females exhibited longer residence times than males, especially near forest edges, while males were more likely to be recaptured along forest edges yet had shorter residence times overall. Habitat characteristics such as canopy cover, host tree species, and distance to forest edge influenced these patterns, highlighting how environmental factors may influence lanternfly behavior. Finally, I compared six co-occurring lanternfly species in the same forest to evaluate how closely related phloem feeders share space. Species differed in vertical position, host tree use, body form, and behavioral orientation. Morphologically similar species often diverged in habitat use, while morphologically distinct species sometimes occupied similar microhabitats. These results demonstrate fine-scale niche partitioning among species that share similar feeding biology. Together, these studies provide a broad perspective on lanternfly ecology in both invaded and native systems. They show how an invasive species creates new resource opportunities for local invertebrates, how sex-specific behaviors influence habitat use in a fragmented tropical forest, and how multiple species partition niche space within a shared environment. This work contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the ecology and diversity of an otherwise understudied insect family.