Spring prevention: Stopping the spotted lanternfly
Courtesy of Department of Agriculture
I felt a wave of disappointment last August when I opened my front door on a Saturday morning to find an adult spotted lanternfly on our front storm door.
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect species that was first identified in the United States in 2014 in Pennsylvania’s Bucks County. Originating in China, it has no natural predators in the U.S. It is a large plant hopper that feeds on the sap of trees and other plants. Since its discovery, there has been an ongoing effort to contain the spread across the commonwealth and into other areas of the U.S.
Those efforts have slowed, but have not stopped, the species’ progress. From year to year, the spotted lantern fly has made its way across the state. It was confirmed in both Allegheny and Westmoreland counties in 2020 and reached parts of Fayette County in 2022.
When I saw that lanternfly, I initially became concerned that I had contributed to the spread. Just a few days earlier, I had been in downtown Pittsburgh, where the species has emerged in massive amounts the past few years. I feared I had carried a hitchhiker, literally, to my door. Those concerns faded, however. When speaking to a neighbor, I learned his house and deck had been covered by lanternflies for over a week.
It’s likely you had a similar experience last summer. I’ve heard from friends and family of large hatches of lanternflies throughout the county. Unfortunately, now that they are here, the spotted lanternfly will likely be back each year in even greater numbers. Since the species has no natural predators, each succeeding generation, if left unchecked, will grow exponentially.
Which leads to the question, “What can, or should we do to control them?”
One of the best things to do this spring season is to check trees, structures and equipment for any lanternfly egg masses and destroy them. Each destroyed spotted lanternfly egg cluster eliminates as many as 50 viable eggs.
It is not difficult to do. After laying an egg cluster, female lanternflies cover the eggs with mud for protection. These egg masses look like brown or tan patches on trees, branches or any hard surface, including buildings, brick or concrete walls, or outdoor equipment. If you locate an egg mass, you can scrape it with a knife or even a credit card to remove it. By placing the scraped material into a bag containing hand sanitizer or alcohol, you can ensure all the eggs are destroyed.
As their population grows within the county, the impact on our backyards and local economy could be significant. While they prefer some types of trees, spotted lanternflies are proving to be nonselective feeders and are known to kill small trees and fruiting vines from over feeding. They are especially deadly to economic plants like grape vines. Lanternfly damage is estimated to cost the state several hundred thousand dollars annually. So, this spring, please help to identify and destroy as many as we can, before they hatch.
More information about spotted lanternfly is available at https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly.
The Penn State Master Gardeners program is a volunteer horticultural organization established by the Cooperative Extension to support agricultural outreach and educational events across the county and state.