Context-Dependent Anti-Predator Behavior in Nymphs of the Invasive Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula): Effects of Development, Microhabitat, and Social Environment

Antipredator behaviors in animals often vary with developmental stage, microhabitat, and social context, yet few studies examine how these factors interact in species that undergo ontogenetic shifts in chemical defense. The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive planthopper whose nymphs transition from cryptically colored early instars to aposematically colored fourth instars that feed primarily on chemically-defended host plants. We conducted 1,460 simulated predator attacks on nymphs across four developmental stages to examine how antipredator behavior varies with instar, plant location (leaf vs. stem), host plant species, and local conspecific density. Nymphs exhibited three primary responses: hiding, sidestepping, or jumping. We found that location on plant had the strongest effect, with nymphs on stems more likely to hide than those on leaves. Older instars were significantly less likely to hide and more likely to sidestep, particularly on stems, suggesting reduced reliance on energetically costly escape behaviors as chemical defenses accumulate. First instars were less likely to jump from their preferred host plant (tree-of-heaven) compared to other plant species. Higher local conspecific density reduced hiding probability, likely due to spatial interference. These results demonstrate that antipredator strategies in L. delicatula are flexibly deployed based on developmental stage, microhabitat structure, and social context, with implications for understanding evolution of antipredator behavior in chemically protected species.