While ticks and mosquitos are dangerous pests to monitor in your yard, there’s another not-so-local insect that has made its way to Northeast Pennsylvania, and it can pose a threat to both farmers and residential properties.
The spotted lanternfly, or lycorma delicatula, has made its presence known all across Northeast PA, swarming local foliage and hopping around parking lots.
This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the spotted lanternfly arriving in Pennsylvania, and its population has only exploded. Part of the solution to reducing spotted lanternfly populations requires citizen involvement in squashing and destroying egg masses wherever they are spotted.
This guide will explain exactly what to do the next time you find a spotted lanternfly so that you can reduce their population and protect your property from possible damage to local trees.
What Is the Spotted Lanternfly?
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive planthopper insect native to China, India, and Vietnam. The adult insect is approximately 1” long and about a ½ inch wide.
Their front wing is gray with black spots, with black blocked outlined wing tips, while their hind wings are red and black with a white band. Spotted lanternflies’ legs and heads are black, and their abdomens are yellow with broad black bands. The immature lanternflies are smaller, black, and covered in white spots. They develop red patches as they grow.
Spotted Lanternfly Lifecycle
Spotted lanternflies tend to reproduce one generation yearly, which is good news for residents trying to thwart these pests. In spring and summer, they go through four early nymphal stages, transitioning from black to bright red.
Once adults, they grow wings to fly and lay egg masses that hatch during the next winter. Residents typically have the best chance of destroying these creatures during the overwintering stage and early spring.
Why Are Spotted Lanternflies A Problem?
It is unknown whether the spotted lanternfly is physically harmful to humans or animals. However, these insects feed on plants and trees. This invasive species feeds on over 70+ plants, including important forestry and agricultural crops.
They are particularly fond of apples, grapes, and other vegetation, but the Tree of Heaven is considered the biggest attractant–an invasive species in Northeast PA you can spot just about on the side of any highway.
Once attacked, these trees develop weeping wounds, often grayish or black. These weeping wounds attract many other insects, including wasps and ants. Spotted lanternflies also leave a similarly colored trail along the tree trunk.
Adult lanternflies lay egg masses on host trees and nearby smooth surfaces. They can attach these masses to almost anything: vehicles, furniture, structures, stones, and many more spots. This makes it difficult to track where they are and even easier to bring them somewhere new. Newly laid egg masses have a gray mud-like covering.
This invasive species threatens Pennsylvania’s grape, tree-fruit, hardwood, nursery, and landscape industries, which generate agricultural crops and forest products. Additionally, spotted lanternflies can damage high-value ornamentals in home landscapes and affect the quality of life.
Where Is The Spotted Lanternfly Threat?
Spotted lanternflies were first discovered in Berks County, PA in 2014. The infestation soon spread throughout 14 counties in southeastern PA, which the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has designated as a quarantine zone. In 2024, the current quarantine map consists of the entirety of Southern Pennsylvania and every county in Northeast PA, short of Wyoming County.
Hitchhikers by nature, it is only a matter of time until all of PA is under a spotted lanternfly quarantine unless something can be done.
What’s Being Done To Stop Spotted Lanternfly?
Research may have found the first breakthrough in the attempt to stop the spread. Recently, a fungus that killed the lanternflies at a park near Reading was found. The research continues, but this is the first possible enemy that may be the key to fighting this invasive species.
Another lingering problem with dealing with these pests is combatting the rapid spread of the Tree of Heaven, which has spread throughout the region at record speeds.
Currently, the most effective solution to combating these creatures is educating the public on ways to eliminate spotted lanternflies when they spot them.
What to Do When You Spot a Spotted Lanternfly
The best way to combat this invasion is to be vigilant. Follow the necessary precautions issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Penn State University. Check outdoor items for spotted lanternfly egg masses, including anything you move inside between seasons. Scrape egg masses into a plastic zippered bag filled with hand sanitizer, then zip the bag shut. Take the proper steps to dispose of it.
Inspect trees (in particular, tree of heaven), bricks, stone, and other smooth surfaces for egg masses. Dusk and nighttime are typically when these insects tend to gather in large groups on trunks or stems of plants.
If you do spot these bugs, be sure to squash them by any means possible.
Most importantly, should you find evidence of an infestation, report it to the experts. Together, we can stop the spread of spotted lanternflies and protect our agriculture.
FAQs
How do I physically remove spotted lanternflies?
Use a flyswatter or vacuum cleaner to capture and dispose of them. You can also use sticky traps placed around trees and surfaces where they gather.
Are there natural predators for spotted lanternflies?
Yes, certain birds, spiders, and praying mantises are known to prey on spotted lanternflies.
What should I do if I find spotted lanternfly egg masses?
Scrape them off using a putty knife or similar tool, and place them in a container filled with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer to kill the eggs.
Can I use insecticides to control spotted lanternflies?
Yes, insecticides labeled for use against spotted lanternflies can be effective. Follow label instructions carefully to ensure safety and efficacy.