Ph.D. student Stefani Cannon is preparing for graduation; the Doctoral Defense is scheduled for Thursday, November 06, 2025, at 10 am in room 234, Biology Life Science. 

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

Abstract: Lanternflies (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) are phloem-feeding insects found in temperate and tropical regions worldwide. The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) may be the best-known species, as it is highly invasive and poses significant ecological and economic threats across its invaded range. While L. delicatula has been extensively studied, most other planthopper species remain poorly understood within their native habitats, despite their potential to reveal broader ecological patterns within this family. Here, I explore ecological patterns across spatial and biological scales in both temperate and tropical ecosystems. First, I examine how invertebrates exploit honeydew 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 [...]

Dissertation Committee: 

 Dr. Matthew Helmus, Advisory Committee Chair, Department of Biology 

Dr. Rachel Spigler, Examining Committee Chair, Department of Biology 

Dr. Robert Sanders, Committee Member, Department of Biology 

Dr. Charles Bartlett, External Member, University of Delaware