Abstract Developing a lifelong marking method for Lycorma delicatula (White, 1845) is crucial to investigate ecological processes. Here we validate a marking method using stable isotope enrichment (15N) of host plants to track spotted lanternfly (SLF), an invasive species causing economic damage on grapes, hardwood forest and landscape tree species. To validate this method, we first determined the isotope dosage to be sprayed on the host plants and subsequently detected in SLF. Second, we examined whether 15N mark remains detectable from the nymphal to adult stage. We demonstrated that two stable isotope dosages applied to the host plants were assimilated by the insect and equally detectable in the exoskeleton, wings, and mature eggs ready to be oviposited. This safe and reliable method can be used to examine fundamental processes of the biology and ecology of SLF that range from dietary resources and resource allocation to food-web structure and dispersal patterns.

中文翻译：

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使用稳定的氮同位素对斑点灯笼蝇（半翅目：Fulgoridae）进行长期标记的方法

摘要 为 Lycorma delicatula (White, 1845) 开发终身标记方法对于研究生态过程至关重要。在这里，我们验证了一种使用寄主植物的稳定同位素富集 (15N) 来跟踪斑点灯笼蝇 (SLF) 的标记方法，这是一种对葡萄、阔叶林和景观树种造成经济损害的入侵物种。为了验证这种方法，我们首先确定了喷洒在寄主植物上的同位素剂量，随后在 SLF 中检测到。其次，我们检查了从若虫到成虫阶段是否仍然可以检测到 15N 标记。我们证明了应用于宿主植物的两种稳定同位素剂量被昆虫同化，并且在外骨骼、翅膀和准备产卵的成熟卵中同样可检测到。