Kelli Hoover

Professor of Entomology

Kelli Hoover

Research Summary

Invasive species of forest insects; plant-insect-entomopathogen interactions; impacts of plants on pathogenesis; biological control of hemlock woolly adelgid

Huck Affiliations

Most Recent Publications

Predation of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) by generalist arthropod predators in North America

Anne E. Johnson, Sara Hermann, Kelli Hoover, 2025, Arthropod-Plant Interactions

Effects of baculovirus-killed cadavers on plant defenses and insect behavior

Asher G. Jones, Ikkei Shikano, Charles J. Mason, Michelle Peiffer, Gary W. Felton, Kelli Hoover, 2025, Arthropod-Plant Interactions

Approach to Validate ISPM-15 Compliance for Commercial Treatment Certification of Dielectric Standard Heating of Bulk Solid Wood Packing Materials using Radio Frequency

Karolina K. Szymona, John Jack Janowiak, Ron Mack, Mark Hamelin, Mark A. Gagnon, Kelli Hoover, 2024, Forest Products Journal on p. 318-330

Influence of Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) on Multiple Maple (Acer spp.) Species Canopy Foliar Spectral and Chemical Profiles

Elisabeth G. Joll, Matthew D. Ginzel, Kelli Hoover, John J. Couture, 2024, Remote Sensing

Architecture and potential roles of a delta-class glutathione S-transferase in protecting honey bee from agrochemicals

Timothy W. Moural, Sonu Koirala B K, Gaurab Bhattarai, Ziming He, Haoyang Guo, Ngoc T. Phan, Edwin G. Rajotte, David J. Biddinger, Kelli Hoover, Fang Zhu, 2024, Chemosphere

Effects of long-term feeding by spotted lanternfly (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) on ecophysiology of common hardwood host trees

Kelli Hoover, Lidiia Iavorivska, Emily K. Lavely, Osariyekemwen Uyi, Brian Walsh, Emelie Swackhamer, Anne Johnson, David Eissenstat, 2023, Environmental Entomology on p. 888-899

Approach to surveying egg masses of the invasive spotted lanternfly (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae)

Joseph A. Keller, Kelli Hoover, 2023, Environmental Entomology on p. 759-767

Efficacy and nontarget effects of broadcast treatments to manage spotted lanternfly (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) nymphs

Joseph A. Keller, Brian Walsh, Anne Johnson, Nina Jenkins, John Rost, Brianna Treichler, David Biddinger, Dennis D. Calvin, Kelli Hoover, Julie Urban, Richard T. Roush, 2023, Journal of Economic Entomology on p. 1211-1224

Tomato Chemical Defenses Intensify Corn Earworm (Helicoverpa zea) Mortality from Opportunistic Bacterial Pathogens

Charles J. Mason, Michelle Peiffer, Kelli Hoover, Gary Felton, 2023, Journal of Chemical Ecology on p. 313-324

Potential risk to pollinators from neonicotinoid applications to host trees for management of spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae)

Jonathan Elmquist, David Biddinger, Ngoc T. Phan, Timothy W. Moural, Fang Zhu, Kelli Hoover, 2023, Journal of Economic Entomology on p. 368-378

Most-Cited Papers

Genome of the Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), a globally significant invasive species, reveals key functional and evolutionary innovations at the beetle-plant interface

Duane D. McKenna, Erin D. Scully, Yannick Pauchet, Kelli Hoover, Roy Kirsch, Scott M. Geib, Robert F. Mitchell, Robert M. Waterhouse, Seung Joon Ahn, Deanna Arsala, Joshua B. Benoit, Heath Blackmon, Tiffany Bledsoe, Julia H. Bowsher, André Busch, Bernarda Calla, Hsu Chao, Anna K. Childers, Christopher Childers, Dave J. Clarke, Lorna Cohen, Jeffery P. Demuth, Huyen Dinh, Harsha Vardhan Doddapaneni, Amanda Dolan, Jian J. Duan, Shannon Dugan, Markus Friedrich, Karl M. Glastad, Michael A.D. Goodisman, Stephanie Haddad, Yi Han, Daniel S.T. Hughes, Panagiotis Ioannidis, J. Spencer Johnston, Jeffery W. Jones, Leslie A. Kuhn, David R. Lance, Chien Yueh Lee, Sandra L. Lee, Han Lin, Jeremy A. Lynch, Armin P. Moczek, Shwetha C. Murali, Donna M. Muzny, David R. Nelson, Subba R. Palli, Kristen A. Panfilio, Dan Pers, Monica F. Poelchau, Honghu Quan, Jiaxin Qu, Ann M. Ray, Joseph P. Rinehart, Hugh M. Robertson, Richard Roehrdanz, Andrew J. Rosendale, Seunggwan Shin, Christian Silva, Alex S. Torson, Iris M.Vargas Jentzsch, John H. Werren, Kim C. Worley, George Yocum, Evgeny M. Zdobnov, Richard A. Gibbs, Stephen Richards, 2016, Genome Biology

Fall armyworm-associated gut bacteria modulate plant defense responses

Flor E. Acevedo, Michelle Peiffer, Ching Wen Tan, Bruce A. Stanley, Anne Stanley, Jie Wang, Asher G. Jones, Kelli Hoover, Cristina Rosa, Dawn Luthe, Gary Felton, 2017, Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions on p. 127-137

Asian longhorned beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an introduced pest of maple and other hardwood trees in North America and Europe

P. S. Meng, K. Hoover, M. A. Keena, 2015, Journal of Integrated Pest Management

Host plant and population source drive diversity of microbial gut communities in two polyphagous insects

Asher G. Jones, Charles J. Mason, Gary W. Felton, Kelli Hoover, 2019, Scientific Reports

Plant defenses interact with insect enteric bacteria by initiating a leaky gut syndrome

Charles J. Mason, Swayamjit Ray, Ikkei Shikano, Michelle Peiffer, Asher G. Jones, Dawn S. Luthe, Kelli Hoover, Gary W. Felton, 2019, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America on p. 15991-15996

Host plant species determines symbiotic bacterial community mediating suppression of plant defenses

Seung Ho Chung, Erin D. Scully, Michelle Peiffer, Scott M. Geib, Cristina Rosa, Kelli Hoover, Gary W. Felton, 2017, Scientific Reports

Helicoverpa zea gut-associated bacteria indirectly induce defenses in tomato by triggering a salivary elicitor(s)

Jie Wang, Michelle Peiffer, Kelli Hoover, Cristina Rosa, Rensen Zeng, Gary W. Felton, 2017, New Phytologist on p. 1294-1306

Symbiotic polydnavirus of a parasite manipulates caterpillar and plant immunity

Ching Wen Tan, Michelle Peiffer, Kelli Hoover, Cristina Rosa, Flor E. Acevedo, Gary W. Felton, 2018, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America on p. 5199-5204

Diet influences proliferation and stability of gut bacterial populations in herbivorous lepidopteran larvae

Charles J. Mason, Abbi St Clair, Michelle Peiffer, Elena Gomez, Asher G. Jones, Gary W. Felton, Kelli Hoover, 2020, PLoS One on p. e0229848

Essential amino acid supplementation by gut microbes of a wood-feeding cerambycid

Paul A. Ayayee, Thomas Larsen, Cristina Rosa, Gary W. Felton, James G. Ferry, Kelli Hoover, 2016, Environmental Entomology on p. 66-73

News Articles Featuring Kelli Hoover

Mar 17, 2025

Natural insect predators may serve as allies in spotted lanternfly battle

Insect predators found in the United States could help keep spotted lanternfly populations in check while potentially reducing reliance on chemical control methods, according to a new study conducted by researchers at Penn State.

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Aug 20, 2024

Spotted Lanternfly Returns

This Philadelphia-based broadcast TV segment features an interview with Kelli Hoover, professor of entomology.

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Aug 18, 2024

NY's invasive lanternflies are coating the region with sweet, destructive poop

Invasive spotted lanternflies are harming plant life across New York by sucking sap from trees and vines at an alarming rate. But scientists say the insects’ poop, known as “honeydew,” is also a major cause for concern.

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Mar 05, 2024

Squashing lantern flies isn’t enough. Here’s how to kill them.

About Lantern flies and how to get rid of them

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Oct 06, 2023

Spotted lanternflies are still a pest but the smoky honey they help make could be good for you

New research shows honey connected to spotted lanternfly has medicinal potential as well as a fall flavor for foodies

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Sep 20, 2023

Spotted Lanternflies Innocent???

Research found that the spotted lanternfly may cause less damage to certain trees, though they could still be harmful in other ways

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Sep 10, 2023

Long-term spotted lanternfly study shows limited impact on hardwoods

Hardwood trees may not be less vulnerable to spotted lanternflies as previously thought

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Sep 09, 2023

Can you eat a spotted lanternfly?

What is a spotted lanternfly and whether you should kill and can eat it

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Sep 07, 2023

PSU study reveals impact of invasive spotted lanternflies on trees, environment

A recent Penn State on spotted lanternflies shows how they are affecting the environment.

Full Article

Sep 06, 2023

Smashing lanternflies and smashing myths: Study finds they may not be as harmful as once thought

A recent study from Penn State shows lanternflys may not be as dangerous as thought

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Sep 05, 2023

Invasive spotted lanternfly may not damage hardwood trees as previously thought

New long-term research about the spotted lanternfly led by Penn State has revealed that hardwood trees, such as maple, willow and birch, may be less vulnerable than initially thought.

Full Article

Mar 09, 2023

Study examines the effects of using insecticides for spotted lanternfly control

Neonicotinoid insecticides used to control spotted lanternflies have the potential to harm pollinators, but the degree of risk depends on multiple factors, such as application timing, type of neonicotinoid, the species of tree being treated and pollinator species sensitivity.

Full Article

Jan 20, 2023

Why spotted lanternflies climb before they fly

Spotted lanternflies’ love for tall, vertical surfaces as the perfect launching spot for their weak flights is the reason piles of the insects are showing up around places like office buildings, according to a Penn State researcher.

Full Article

Dec 12, 2022

Study examines feeding damage caused by spotted lanternflies on young maples

Short-term, heavy feeding by adult spotted lanternflies on young maple trees inhibits photosynthesis, potentially impairing the tree’s growth by up to 50 percent, according to a new study by Penn State scientists.

Full Article

Nov 17, 2022

Despite the collective rampage against spotted lanternflies, the pests are here to stay

Killing spotted lanternflies became part of U.S. culture this summer, and TikTok users spurred a flurry of bug hunting. Did it make a difference?

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Jul 10, 2022

Spotted lanternflies make a tasty meal for some birds and other bugs

For several years, there was no known natural predator to the invasive spotted lanternfly. But, as more studies have cropped up, researchers are finding that several animals like to make a meal out of the pests. At Pennsylvania State University (PSU), one study has asked the public for help.

Full Article

Jun 06, 2022

Penn State Extension publication offers guidance on managing spotted lanternfly

A new publication from Penn State Extension is a must-read for those who want the latest information about the spotted lanternfly. Authored by scientists and extension educators in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, the Spotted Lanternfly Management Guide features comprehensive information, illustrations, charts and photos on the pest’s biology, behavior, plant damage and management, as well as a brief overview of ongoing research.

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Jan 21, 2022

Mining for knowledge: Scientists identify bee that can aid black cherry recovery

A ground-nesting bee family — commonly known as miner bees — could play a heightened role in rebuilding black cherry populations in Pennsylvania and beyond, according to Penn State entomologists who investigated pollinators’ contributions to the valuable hardwood species.

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Sep 09, 2021

National society to recognize two Penn State entomologists

Two entomologists in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences will receive prestigious awards from the Entomological Society of America during its 2021 annual meeting.

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Aug 12, 2019

Asian longhorned beetle larvae eat plant tissues that their parents cannot

Despite the buzz in recent years about other invasive insects that pose an even larger threat to agriculture and trees — such as the spotted lanternfly, the stink bug and the emerald ash borer — Penn State researchers have continued to study another damaging pest, the Asian longhorned beetle.

Full Article

Jul 22, 2019

Plants defend against insects by inducing 'leaky gut syndrome'

Plants may induce "leaky gut syndrome" — permeability of the gut lining — in insects as part of a multipronged strategy for protecting themselves from being eaten, according to researchers at Penn State.

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