About Us

Funding was provided by the Northeastern IPM Center to form a working group in summer of 2018 with Penn State as the lead institution. The working group met several times and submitted a successful proposal to the USDA-NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative in December 2018 to study the biology, ecology, and management of spotted lanternfly. The goals for this project are to develop efficacious tactics for managing the invasive Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, on vulnerable specialty crops to reduce the risk of widespread, catastrophic damage and to develop strategies for long-term SLF management. Our partnership includes 7 universities, USDA-ARS and APHIS, and will be advised by an engaged and thoughtful stakeholder advisory panel. Findings and recommendations will be disseminated through university Extension, StopSLF.org, the private sector and commodity organizations. In this Coordinated Agriculture Project, our objectives are to:

  1. Quantify SLF impact on at-risk specialty crops and immediately develop management tactics to reduce the damage in areas where SLF is established.
  2. Perform essential fundamental research on SLF basic biology, ecology, behavior and biological control tactics contributing to long-term sustainable solutions.
  3. Deliver immediate SLF management solutions to specialty crop stakeholders and the general public via the Extension networks of the partnering land-grant universities, USDA agencies, and the Northeastern IPM Center.

Participants

Julie Urban, Research Associate Professor of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University

Heather Leach, Extension Associate, The Pennsylvania State University

David Biddinger, Research Professor of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University

Michela Centinari, Assistant Professor of Viticulture, The Pennsylvania State University

Greg Krawczyk, Extension Tree Fruit Entomologist, The Pennsylvania State University

Cristina Rosa, Assistant Professor of Plant Virology, The Pennsylvania State University

Thomas Baker, Distinguished Professor of Entomology and Chemical Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University

Sampurna Sattar, Assistant Professor of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University

Fang Zhu, Assistant Professor of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University

Kelli Hoover, Professor of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University

Jayson Harper, Professor of Agricultural Economics, The Pennsylvania State University

Tracy Leskey, Entomology Research Leader/Director, USDA-ARS

Kim Hoelmer, Research Leader, USDA-ARS

Miriam Cooperband, Entomologist, USDA-APHIS

Rodney Cooper, Entomologist, USDA-ARS

Charles Bartlett, Associate Professor of Entomology, University of Delaware

Matthew Helmus, Assistant Professor of Biology, Temple University

Jocelyn Behm, Assistant Professor of Biology, Temple University

Benjamin Siebold, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Temple University

Doug Pfeiffer, Professor of Entomology, Virginia Technical University

Eric Day, Administrative and Professional Faculty in Entomology, Virginia Technical University

Tom Kuhar, Professor of Entomology, Virginia Technical University

Scott Salom, Professor of Entomology, Virginia Technical University

Dorothea Tholl, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, Virginia Technical University

Anne Nielsen, Assistant Extension Specialist of Entomology, Rutgers University

Julie Lockwood, Professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers University

Megan Muehlbauer, Extension Agent III, Rutgers New Jersey Experiment Station

Dean Polk, Extension Agent I, Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center

George Hamilton, Entomology Department Chair, Rutgers University

Deb Grantham, Director, Northeast IPM Center

Ann Hajek, Professor of Entomology, Cornell University

Peter Jentsch, Senior Extension Associate/Entomologist, Cornell University

James O’Connell, Small Fruit Specialist, Cornell University

Dan Olmstead, NEWA Coordinator, NYS IPM Program, Cornell University

Brian Eshenaur, Sr. Extension Associate for Ornamental Crops, Cornell University

Lisa Tewksbury, Research Associate and Director of Biological Control Program, University of Rhode Island