Penn State Extension, Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture, USDA An Invasive InsectThe Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a member of the planthopper family and an invasive insect new to the United States. Spotted Lanternflies (SLF) are native to Southeast Asia, but they have been introduced to other areas, including Korea, where they are a major pest to agriculture. SLF are reproducing quickly in southeastern Pennsylvania and have the potential to become a major threat to our agriculture and forestry industries. How to Identify a Spotted LanternflySLF live through the winter as eggs. Eggs are laid in masses on trees, under bark, on rusty metal, on plastic yard objects, on cars and trailers, on outdoor grills, and on many other surfaces. Newly laid egg masses have a grey mud-like covering which can take on a dry cracked appearance over time. Old egg masses appear as rows of 30-50 brownish seed-like deposits in 4-7 columns on the trunk, roughly an inch long. In late April and early May, young nymphs hatch. They are wingless and are black with bright white spots. As the nymphs mature they become vibrantly red with distinct patches of black and equally distinct bright white spots. Adults appear in July. The adult is a winged, flying leaf-hopper about 1 to 1 and ¼ inch long with grey wings with dark black spots. When the SLF opens its wings, you’ll see a bright red underwing with black wingtips. They are poor flyers but strong jumpers. Do Spotted Lanternflies kill plants and trees?As SLF are fairly new to North America, there is much that we don’t know and this is a continued area of research. To date, scientists have only seen spotted lanternfly kill grapevines, tree of heaven, and black walnut saplings. In Korea, however, SLF have had a major destructive impact on grapes, apples, pines, and many other plants. Because of the potential damage SLF could do to agriculture and forestry products, they are considered a threat to the economic well-being of our state and its citizens. Are Spotted Lanternflies dangerous to children and pets?SLF do not bite, sting, or attack people, pets, or livestock. It is not known if SLF are poisonous when ingested by humans or animals. Can I prevent Spotted Lanternflies from getting on my property?The best thing any property owner can do is to stay informed about SLF. Learn how to identify egg casings as well as all the life stages and monitor your property for signs of infestation. Remove or treat any Ailanthus trees (also called Tree of Heaven), which is considered a key tree host for SLF). In winter, scrape egg casings into a bag, seal it, and dispose of it in the trash. In the summer, place sticky bands around target trees; however, these bands should be carefully selected, covered with wire fencing, and monitored to prevent other wildlife like birds from becoming trapped. Finally, encourage natural predators by avoiding spraying pesticides. Information on treatment options can be found on http://extension.psu.edu/pests/spotted-lanternfly. What is the park doing about Spotted Lanternflies?
Can I conduct research on Spotted Lanternflies in the park?Yes, we encourage scientific research in the parks but you must apply for a research permit. Permit applications can be submitted at https://irma.nps.gov or by contacting Amy Ruhe, Natural Resource Manager, at Amy_Ruhe@nps.gov or 610-783-1036. Where can I get more information?Check out the following websites for additional information and current information on management efforts: https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/ http://extension.psu.edu/pests/spotted-lanternfly |