The best way to fend off an aggressive invasive insect like the spotted lanternfly is to curb the spread. The same goes for birds, mammals, and reptiles that rely on woody vegetation for habitat and food.
Bats that roost in trees for part of the year may find less available habitat. The insect causes harm to native trees and forests, potentially destroying habitat for countless species. In cases where the host plant provides an economically important commodity, like apple trees or grape vines, the mold also affects the look, taste, and smell of the fruit.īeyond the potential destruction that these pests could bring to the region’s apple and wine industries, spotted lanternfly poses an ecological threat too. The fungus stresses the tree, leaving it vulnerable to other diseases and pests, and disrupts photosynthesis, stunting the growth and overall health of the tree. After feeding, spotted lanternfly excrete a substance called honeydew: partially digested sap that attracts other nuisance insects to the host tree and causes the growth of a fungus called sooty mold. That alone can cause harm a tree, but it gets worse. Spotted lanternfly feed using piercing mouthparts to access sap beneath a tree’s bark. Note that the east-to-west spread in Pennsylvania follows the route of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, most likely facilitated by accidental vehicle transport. Image Details This is a map showing spotted lanternfly infestations and individual sightings. The insect has been documented feeding on more than 70 different species, including maple trees, oak trees, grape vines, and apple trees. But, regardless, removing tree of heaven won’t remove spotted lanternfly-there’s plenty more for it to eat. Cutting a tree of heaven down only spurs new growth through its aggressive root system.
It is prevalent throughout most of the Northeast and is not easy to eradicate. Tree of heaven is itself an invasive species. Adults lay eggs in the fall that hatch the following spring, beginning the life cycle over again.Īs soon as they hatch, they begin to feed on woody plant species, with a notable preference for the Ailanthus tree, commonly known as “tree of heaven.” The insects pass through four distinct life stages (called first, second, third, and fourth instars) in a matter of months before maturing into adults with their eye-catching red underwings. Spotted lanternfly are planthoppers, categorized as such due to their ability to hop from surface to surface and hold on tight when they land. Spotted lanternfly has made it to 10 states in only seven years.” Get to know the spotted lanternfly “Spotted lanternfly has spread so much faster than a lot of invasives that we’ve seen in the past,” said Matthew Gallo of the Finger Lakes chapter of the Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM). “Gypsy moths took almost 100 years just to spread from Massachusetts to New York. Its threat continues to reach further west and grow more intensely in existing areas. Spotted lanternfly is now present in Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia. Learn more about invasive species, it was introduced to new turf accidentally through imported goods. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars. Like many other invasive species invasive speciesĪn invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Native to southern China, Vietnam, and Taiwan, the spotted lanternfly began to spread in the early 2000s, first to South Korea and Japan, and then to the United States. Adults are about 1-inch long and characterized by their lantern shaped bodies, black polka-dotted forewings, and red, black, and white underwings.
Image Details Adult spotted lanternfly cause damage to trees and are a threat to regional ecological health.
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