Global mtDNA Diversity of the Invasive Spotted Lanternfly

Sofiia Korotka

Co-Presenters: Katilyn Sookoo, Juhi Rawal, Nicolas Largotta

College: Hennings College of Science Mathematics and Technology

Major: BS.SCI/TEC/MOLBIO

Faculty Research Mentor: Levine, Brenna  

Abstract:

Mitochondrial genomes provide a valuable marker for tracing invasion history and dispersal in non-native species. The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), native to China, was first detected in the United States in 2014 in southeastern Pennsylvania, where early mitochondrial analyses of just 10 individuals revealed a single haplotype. To test whether this pattern has persisted during the species’ rapid range expansion, we sequenced complete mitochondrial genomes from 294 spotted lanternflies collected across 24 U.S. populations between 2023 and 2024. In contrast to the initial homogeneity, our broader sampling reveals 50 distinct haplotypes now present across the invasive U.S. range. This dramatic increase in haplotype diversity may reflect previously unsampled variation in the original introduction, the arrival of additional mitochondrial lineages during spread, or signatures of rapid population growth and range expansion. By integrating large-scale mitochondrial sampling across space and time, this work provides new insight into how genetic variation accumulates during invasion and establishes a foundation for tracking future spread of this destructive insect.