PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — We are approaching the height of spotted lanternfly season, the time when these invasive pests wreak havoc on our trees and plants.
Spotted lanternflies, which are native to China, have been increasing in population since they were first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014. They have since spread to 13 other states: Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and New Jersey.
The nymphs will molt later this month and become adults, becoming more visible as they gather on plants like the invasive tree of heaven, their favorite food source. They also feed on a wide range of fruits and ornamental and woody trees.
The lanternflies can now be found in every county in New Jersey, said Saul Vaiciunas, a plant pathologist with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.
Although steadily growing, state departments and residents alike have helped keep their populations under control. Officials recommend people stomp on or squish lanternflies to prevent the population from growing further or transporting to new regions.
Birds and other animals do their part, too. Despite their bright colors, Vaiciunas said they have adapted over the years and learned that the lanternflies are not poisonous.
“We do see anecdotal evidence,” he said. “People like to post pictures on social media of birds eating lanternflies. They also show praying mantises eat lanternflies and spiders will catch them, but the problem is they don’t eat a significant amount of them.”
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Pesticides are another option.
“If you’re willing to apply pesticides, that’s going to be the most effective thing in your yard,” he advised. “We still encourage people to step on them.”
Some people have gotten creative with traps — making circle traps or using backpack-style Shop-Vacs. Vaiciunas just recommends avoiding glue traps.
“We do not recommend traps that use a sticky glue because there is a risk of catching birds in those.”
In Delaware, officials are testing small wasps that could be released and would feed exclusively on spotted lanternflies. Testing will continue for at least another decade before it would be implemented.
WHERE SPOTTED LANTERNFLIES CLUSTER
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