Spotted Lanternflies Are Resilient, But Not Invincible. Here’s What You Can Do to Eradicate Them.

Spotted lanternflies have been wreaking havoc on Pennsylvania trees for years, and the battle against them isn’t over. Here’s what you need to know to keep the sap-sucking insects under control.

Since the 2014 arrival of spotted lanternflies in Pennsylvania, the invasive insects have been injuring and killing trees as they crawl their way across the state’s southern counties.

The recommendations you’re likely familiar with—squashing the bugs, reporting sightings online, and calling 1-888-4BADFLY—still stand. However, you can make even more of an impact with a basic knowledge of the life cycle and behaviors of spotted lanternflies.

Here’s what you need to know to do your part in removing spotted lanternflies for good.

The Spotted Lanternfly Life Cycle

There is one generation of spotted lanternflies per year.

It’s important to be able to recognize the development stage of spotted lanternflies in each season because they don’t always resemble the red, white, and black adult bugs whose image is plastered in the media.

Developing an eye for spotted lanternflies throughout their life cycle is beneficial in the fight to eliminate the species.

What Spotted Lanternfly Stage You Should Be Looking For Now

We’re reaching the end of July, so spotted lanternflies will likely look like Stage C and D on the graphic below. Keep your eyes peeled for both the bright red detailing and black spots on the wings of mature bugs.

What You Can Do to Eliminate Spotted Lanternflies

Band Trees

After hatching, nymphs (Stage B) will move upwards to feed on newer and softer tree growth. You can trap them as they do so by wrapping tree trunks in sticky tape.

Make sure to check your traps daily, because there is a rare chance that birds and other small mammals will become stuck to the tape. Alternatively, you can place hardwire cloth or chicken wire over the tape bands to prevent animals from becoming trapped.

UPDATE (8/3/20: Additional comments from Philadelphia Metro Wildlife Center volunteer Karen Melton indicate that some bird species are frequently harmed by sticky tape. Penn State Extension recommends screening or netting as the most effective prevention method.)

Remove Tree-of-Heaven on Your Property

Ailanthus, or tree-of-heaven, is a resilient tree that flourishes in backyards, forests, agricultural land, and even alongside roads. It is a favorite of spotted lanternflies and a damaging, invasive species in its own right.

If you’re facing an infestation that you can’t get under control with other methods, it might be wise to cut down the tree-of-heaven living on your property. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture echoes this recommendation, urging individuals to mitigate the source of the lanternfly problem by removing the tree altogether.

Watch this video on how to identify it.

Check for Spotted Lanternflies Before Traveling

Check your vehicle for the insect, especially when traveling in or out of a quarantine area.

You should examine your car’s undercarriage, windshield wipers, wheel wells, luggage racks, and other hidden places where lanternflies and egg masses could be hiding.

This graphic issued in March shows existing and newly added counties to the lanternfly quarantine zone.

You can also help stop the spread by regularly checking outdoor equipment such as furniture, outdoor grills, mowers, and landscaping supplies.

Destroy Egg Masses Found in Winter and Early Spring

Eggs are found on hard surfaces such as trees, rocks, decks, and house siding. If you stumble across some, scrape the masses off using a plastic card or knife and put them into a container filled with hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol.

If you don’t have an alcohol-based disinfectant at your disposal, you can crush or burn them instead.

Watch this video from Penn State University for step-by-step instructions on how to identify and remove the egg masses.

Only Apply Insecticides as a Last Resort

Don’t apply pesticides if you can manage spotted lanternfly populations using other methods.

There are numerous negative externalities and environmental risks associated with pesticides, so homeowners should seek professional advice before using chemicals to treat an infestation.

Wiping out the insect is a major priority right now, but you and your community’s health should come first. Do your research and be careful about what substances you’re introducing to your immediate environment.

Cover photo courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture website.