Help Stop Spotted Lanternfly Invasive Species in Your Area
The spotted lanternfly invasive species is starting to spread, and every year, officials urge the public to help keep these pests at bay. In the fall, they leg eggs, and officials want you to help get rid of them. Spotted lanternfly was first found in Pennsylvania in September 2014. Since then, it’s been confirmed in 15 states, including Michigan, New Jersey, Delaware and beyond.
What is the Spotted Lanternfly Species?
According to Dec.ny.gov, “Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) or SLF, is an invasive insect pest from Asia that primarily feeds on trees of heaven (Alianthus altissima) but can also feed on a wide variety of plants such as grapevine, hops, maple, walnut, and fruit trees.” They add that “SLF pose a significant threat to New York’s agricultural industry, negatively impacts outdoor recreation, and may impact forest health,” and even though they’re talking about New York state, it’s also very true for the Midwest, Northeast and anywhere else this insect pops up.
Be on the lookout for their eggs, which are “brown, seed-like, and covered in a grey, muddy-looking secretion to form an egg mass arranged vertically. Can be laid on almost any natural or artificial hard surface occurring outdoors,” according to Invasivespeciescentre.ca. Also, as for what they look like in all their glory, “Forewings are approximately one-inch long and are pinkish-grey with black spots and black veins at the tips.”
What to Do If You Find the Spotted Lanternfly?
If you find a swarm, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) says to smash and scrape the invasive egg masses off into a plastic bag, seal it, and throw it away in the municipal trash. They also say pressure washing egg masses from hard, outdoor surfaces is an effective way of ridding them. “Look for spotted lanternfly and spongy moth egg masses on vehicles, trees, and other outdoor surfaces during the winter and early spring,” they note.
They add to “smash and scrape spongy moth and spotted lanternfly egg masses during late fall, winter, and early spring, when these pests are dormant in their egg mass life stage.” Also, “Invasive pest egg masses can travel long distances on the items people travel with and can start infestations in new parts of the country.”
“Invasive insects and plant diseases, such as the spotted lanternfly, spongy moth, citrus greening, and many others, cost the U.S. an estimated $40 billion each year in damages to crops, trees, and other plants,” Kathryn Bronsky, national policy manager for the spongy moth at USDA APHIS, said. “Together, we can make a difference.”
