Bees are widely recognized for their role in pollination, a process crucial for many ecosystems and agricultural crops. The spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, is an invasive insect pest that poses a significant threat to various plants and trees. While bees do not directly consume spotted lanternflies, their interaction involves an indirect connection through a sugary substance produced by the lanternflies.
What Bees Eat
Bees are primarily herbivorous insects, meaning their diet consists of plant-derived materials. Their main food sources are nectar and pollen, both collected from flowering plants. Nectar, a sugary liquid, serves as the bee’s primary carbohydrate source, providing the energy needed for flight, hive maintenance, and other metabolic processes.
Pollen, a powdery substance from flowers, supplies bees with essential proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals. It is crucial for the growth and development of adult bees and particularly for the rearing of larvae. Bees are not predatory insects and do not consume other insects as part of their diet.
The Honeydew Connection
An indirect relationship between bees and spotted lanternflies exists through a substance called “honeydew.” Spotted lanternflies feed by piercing the phloem of plants to extract sap, then excrete excess sugary liquid as honeydew. This sticky, sweet excretion accumulates on plants and surrounding surfaces.
Bees, particularly honey bees, are attracted to this honeydew and collect it as an alternative or supplemental food source, especially when natural nectar sources are scarce. Bees process this honeydew similar to how they process nectar, transforming it into a type of honey known as “honeydew honey.” Beekeepers in areas with spotted lanternfly infestations have observed their hives collecting this honeydew, resulting in late-season, dark honey with a distinct earthy or smoky flavor.
Impact on Bee Health
The consumption of honeydew can have varied effects on bee health. In periods of nectar scarcity, honeydew can be a valuable carbohydrate source, helping colonies build up stores for winter. However, honeydew can also present challenges for bee colonies. It often contains more complex sugars and a higher ash content compared to floral nectar, which can make it harder for bees to digest. If honeydew forms a significant portion of their winter stores, it can potentially lead to digestive issues like dysentery.
Additionally, the honeydew excreted by lanternflies can promote the growth of black sooty mold on affected plants. While the mold itself does not directly harm bees, it can indirectly impact their foraging by covering plant surfaces and reducing photosynthesis, potentially affecting overall plant health and future floral resources.
Other Lanternfly Predators
Since bees do not prey on spotted lanternflies, other organisms play a role in their natural control. In areas where the spotted lanternfly has become invasive, a range of generalist predators have been observed feeding on them. Birds, including chickens, gray catbirds, northern cardinals, blue jays, and tufted titmice, have been seen consuming spotted lanternflies. Among insects, praying mantises, spined soldier bugs, wheel bugs, and yellow jackets are notable predators. Spiders also capture lanternflies in their webs. Research continues to identify and understand the impact of these natural enemies on spotted lanternfly populations.