top of page

Julie Urban

Associate Research Professor


Penn State University

Area of Expertise

Entomology, Evolutionary Biology

Project Role

Dr. Urban oversees monitoring of SLF and evaluating of complementary biological control agents in selected vineyard sites in Pennsylvania.

Research Bio

Dr. Urban's research interests include planthopper natural history and co-evolution of planthoppers with multiple microbial symbionts. With spotted lanternfly, her research focuses on phenology, nutritional requirements, timing of reproductive development, and in using this information to improve SLF management.

Spotted Lanternfly on a grape vine illustration

Managing Spotted Lanternfly and Tree of Heaven is made possible by USDA-ARS Areawide Program #8080-21000-001-00D.

Contact Information:

tracy.leskey@usda.gov

Appalachian Fruit Research Station

2217 Wiltshire Road

Kearneysville, WV 25430

Research Partners:

USDA-ARS

​Penn State University

Rutgers University

Virginia Tech

University of Georgia

University of Minnesota

Privacy Policy

​

Accessibility Statement​

© 2026 Leveraging Biological Control Agents to Simultaneously Reduce Populations of Spotted Lanternfly and Tree of Heaven at an Areawide Scale. All rights reserved.

bottom of page