Spotted Lanternfly The Next Worst Thing

SPOTTED LANTERNFLY: THE NEXT WORST THING

Submitted by Katie Gasior, Horticulture Program Coordinator

Spotted lanternfly (SLF), a kind of invasive and unusually large (1” long) planthopper, is a non-native and damaging insect pest first discovered in the US in Berks County, PA in 2014. It has since spread and now appears to be established in several areas around NY, including Staten Is, Sloatsburg, Orangeburg, Port Jervis, Ithaca, and Queens. SLF has relatively few natural enemies; spiders, some predatory insects, and birds will feed on them but are not effective for controlling populations, which, unrestrained, can build to high levels. The adult stage resembles a kind of gray moth with small dark spots on the front wings. Immature stages (nymphs) are sometimes mistaken for stink bugs or ticks. SLF is strictly a sap feeder on mostly trees and shrubs; it does not feed on leaves or fruit, and it does not attack humans, pets or other animals, damage structures or establish populations in homes. It has an unusually wide host range including dozens of common trees, shrubs, vines and sometimes herbaceous (non-woody) plants. Some preferred plants include grape, tree-of-heaven, red and silver maple, black walnut, river birch, hops, willow and sumac. Plants can generally withstand some infestation but may be weakened or suffer dieback. Heavy infestations, however, have been known to kill grape vines by consuming large amounts of sap and depleting plant reserves. High numbers of SLF can also be an annoyance producing large amounts of sticky honeydew that falls on plants and other objects below and attracts other insects. Sooty mold grows on the honeydew, which spoils the appearance and with sap loss reduces plant vigor. Invasive species can be transported to new locations in various ways. While the insect can walk, jump, or fly short distances, its long-distance spread is facilitated by people who move infested material or items containing egg masses. Spotted lanternflies are easiest to spot at dusk or at night as they migrate up and down the trunk of the plant. If you find an insect that you suspect is the spotted lanternfly, please take a specimen or a photo and submit to spottedlanternfly@ agriculture.ny.gov or report to https://www. nyimapinvasives.org/slf. There is work in progress to identify specific natural enemies that might be released and evaluating treatments for managing infestations. SLF is highly susceptible to some insecticides. Many options are available for commercial (agriculture and landscape professional) use with relative few labeled for home gardeners. More information and a map showing the current distribution of SLF can be found at: https://nysipm.cornell. edu/environment/ invasive-speciesexotic-pests/ spotted-lanternfly/.

Source: Cornell Cooperative Extension Suffolk County. 2021. “Spotted Lanternfly: The next Worst Thing.” Cornell Cooperative Extension. October 1, 2021. https://ccesuffolk.org/agriculture/ spotted-lanternfly-the-next-worst-thing.