Gardens are part of the ecosystem, and as such they can and will attract bugs and wildlife of all sorts. This is a good thing in general. Gardens are living spaces and it’s wonderful to see birds, insects, and other creatures enjoying them too. And while there are no “bad” plants or animals, there are definitely organisms that become pests when they’re someplace they shouldn’t be. Spotted lanternfly is one of these; an invasive insect that poses a real threat to plants in areas to which it’s been introduced. As gardeners, we can help prevent the spread of spotted lanternfly by knowing a bit more about this insect, how it reproduces and spreads, and the basic mechanisms of control and reporting. So, let’s dig in and learn a bit more about spotted lanternfly!
Gardzen Executive Summary
· Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatulai) is native to China and Southeast Asia.
· Over the last 20 years, spotted lanternfly has spread to South Korea, Japan, and the United States.
· Initially sighted in the US Northeast, spotted lanternfly is now considered an invasive species.
· Spotted lanternfly’s feeding mechanism causes damage to trees, landscaping plants, and crops.
· By understanding the spotted lanternfly life cycle and how these insects spread, gardeners and landscapers can help prevent their spread.
Spotted Lanternfly Origins and Biology
Spotted lanternfly ( Lycorma delicatulai) is a planthopper, which means that they’re members of the order Hemiptera that can hop like grasshoppers in order to move quickly from place to place. Spotted lanternfly can also fly for short distances, of course, and these two forms of movement help them navigate their environment. Spotted lanternfly feeds on various kinds of plant life, and its life cycle centers on them.
Adult spotted lanternfly are fairly easy to spot: they’re about 1 inch/25 millimeters long and ½ inch/ 12 millimeters wide. Their spotted wings are distinct both when folded and when full extended, revealing their red hindwings. Spotted lanternfly reproduces by egg masses which may hold between 30 and 50 eggs each. These egg masses about an inch (2.5 cm) long and ovular in shape. Texture wise, they’re a lot like fresh mud when freshly laid and dried mud when they solidify. Spotted lanternfly lays egg masses on a variety of surfaces, including trees, fences, firewood, bricks and masonry, rocks and stones, and even cars and other vehicles.
Spotted lanternfly lays large groups of egg clusters, and both adults and their beetle-like nymphs gather in large groups when feeding. This is where the trouble starts; the feeding habits of spotted lanternfly at every stage of its life cycle cause real problems for trees, shrubs, and crop plants. Spotted lanternfly extracts fluids from trees and other plants to feed, and then excretes a sticky waste substance called honeydew—not to be confused with the delicious melon of similar name. Waste honeydew is a sugary, sticky liquid that builds up on the plants from which spotted lanternfly feeds. This buildup is a perfect host for sooty mold, a black fungus that infects plants, weakening them and potentially killing them. Because spotted lanternfly likes to feed on a wide variety of horticultural and agricultural plants, including grapevines, fruit trees, hops, and hardwood trees, the spread of spotted lanternfly poses a real threat to both the overall environment and human-grown plants.
Stopping the Spread of Spotted Lanternfly
Spotted lanternfly populations have been identified in 19 states and the District of Columbia. It’s not present in Canada yet, but that may happen in the near future. State and federal agencies have protocols in place to limit its spread, including quarantine zones, limitations on firewood and timber transportation, and active elimination programs.
As gardeners, we can do our part. Our skills with plants and the time we spend among them can help us spot (pun intended) populations of Lycorma delicatulai from spreading into new territory and posing a threat to environment and agriculture. The big things we can do our these:
· Learn to identify spotted lanternfly at all life stages: egg masses, nymphs, and adult. We’ve included some photos and some links in this article to help with this, and thankfully this is a very distinct species.
· Kill spotted lanternfly adults when you see them. They’re not toxic to humans so squash, stomp, and slap away! Fly swatters or other tools may be helpful when dealing with spotted lanternflies high up in trees. We’ve read about some folks sucking them up into shop vacs in order to more quickly dispose of large masses. Dispose of any dead spotted lanternfly in the trash rather than the compost heap so that any eggs or surviving bugs don’t cause future problems.
· Destroy egg masses when you find them! This may be the most important step, as the egg cluster tend to appear in large groups. Scrape the egg cluster off its host surface and dispose of it in a plastic bag or other sealed container filled with rubbing alcohol. This both kills and contains the eggs, preventing any survivors from spreading. Dispose of the container in the trash.
· Don’t transport spotted lanternfly! Lycorma delicatulai travels well, which is likely how it reached North America. Don’t inadvertently transport this bug in firewood, timber, lawn and landscaping wastes, or just in an egg mass attached to a vehicle. Inspect spaces for signs of spotted lanternfly, follow the laws and recommendation for transporting wood, timber, and waste, and stay informed as to the status of spotted lanternfly in your area.
We can’t solve the problem, but as gardeners we can do a lot to help. By keeping our eyes open, acting quickly, and staying informed we can help save trees, farms, and other horticultural properties across the country.
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