The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect that has become a serious pest in parts of the eastern United States. This striking-looking planthopper native to Asia was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has since spread to nearby states. Spotted lanternflies can cause major damage to grapes, fruit trees, hops, and hardwood trees. Controlling them takes persistence and multiple approaches. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to control spotted lanternfly on your property and help limit its spread.

Understanding Spotted Lanternfly Biology and Behavior

To effectively control spotted lanternfly, it helps to understand a bit about their life cycle and habits.

Life Stages

Spotted lanternfly goes through four life stages:

• Egg – Females lay egg masses of 30-50 eggs on flat surfaces like tree bark, stones, outdoor furniture, vehicles, and more. The masses are covered in a mud-like protective coating. Eggs hatch in spring.
• Nymph – The tiny nymphs that emerge are black with white spots. As they grow through four instars, they develop red patches. Nymphs feed on plant sap.
• Adult – Adults develop red wing pads and, by late July, can fly and mate. Their wings are gray with black spots.
• Overwintering – Adults mate in fall before females lay eggs. Adults die off and eggs overwinter to start the cycle again.

Feeding Habits

Both nymphs and adults feed on sap from stems and leaves using piercing-sucking mouthparts. This can stress and weaken plants. Spotted lanternfly feeds on a wide range of plants and trees, especially:

• Grapes
• Fruit trees like apple, peach, cherry
• Tree of heaven
• Walnut, birch, oak, maple, and other hardwoods
• Hops

They prefer to feed high up in tree canopies but will come lower when populations are high. The honeydew secretions they excrete can attract bees, wasps, and other insects. Mold growing on the sticky honeydew can damage plants.

Movement and Dispersal

Spotted lanternfly is a strong jumper and flier. Nymphs and wingless adults hop or walk from plant to plant. Adult females are especially prone to flying long distances, allowing them to infest new areas quickly.

People can accidentally transport all life stages on vehicles, outdoor furniture, firewood, landscaping materials, and other items. Checking items carefully before moving them out of the quarantine zone is important.

Checking Trees and Plants for Spotted Lanternfly

Carefully inspect trees, plants, and other surfaces in your landscaping at least once a week during spring, summer, and fall to detect spotted lanternfly early. Focus on:

• Tree of heaven, if present. This invasive tree is one of SLF’s favorite hosts.
• Fruit trees
• Grapevines
• Tree trunks and branches
• The undersides of leaves. Nymphs prefer these protected spots.
• Stone surfaces, vehicles, outdoor furniture, etc.

Adults start laying eggs in September, so be vigilant in fall for egg masses on woody areas. Scrape them off before they hatch.

Physical Removal and Destruction

Manually removing and destroying spotted lanternflies is highly effective for controlling light or moderate infestations and limiting spread. Be persistent!

Remove Nymphs and Adults

• Knock insects off plants into a container of rubbing alcohol or soapy water. Crushing them releases a scent trail to attract more SLF, so avoid this.
• For trees too tall to reach, hold a smoothie board or large card below branches when shaking them to catch falling insects.
• Use a heavy-duty vacuum to suck up nymphs and adults. Empty the vacuum bag contents into soapy water or alcohol.
• Sticky bands wrapped around tree trunks trap climbing nymphs and adults. Check bands daily and destroy caught insects.

Scrape Off Egg Masses

• Use a plastic card or putty knife to scrape off new egg masses. Try not to damage tree bark.
• Place the masses into a bag or container of rubbing alcohol to kill any eggs, or smash thoroughly. Dispose of remains in the garbage, not on the ground.
• Periodically check for any new masses you may have missed. Mature egg masses turn grayish brown. New ones are pale gray with a mud-like coating.

Chemical Controls for Spotted Lanternfly

When manual removal fails to control an infestation, using insecticides is another option. Follow label directions exactly for effective and legal use.

Insecticidal Sprays

Products containing ingredients like bifenthrin, carbaryl, cyfluthrin, dinotefuran, fenpropathrin, imidacloprid, permethrin, potassium salts of fatty acids, pyrethrin, and zeta-cypermethrin can kill nymphs and adults. Spray tree trunks, branches, and the undersides of leaves where SLF feeds and congregates. Avoid spraying pollinators and blooming plants.

Systemic Insecticides

Systemic insecticides are absorbed and transported within plants to make the plant toxic to feeding insects. They can provide longer-lasting control on trees. Products may contain clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, or thiamethoxam. Apply as soil drenches or directly on tree trunks. Hire a licensed pest control operator if you lack experience with systemics.

Insecticidal Soaps and Oils

Insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils kill soft-bodied insects through direct contact on sprayed surfaces. They have very little toxicity to people and pets. Do not use when temperatures exceed 90°F as leaf burn can result. Spray nymphs and adults directly for control. Oils can also smother eggs when thoroughly sprayed on masses.

Natural Predators for Biological Control

Natural enemies play an important role in spotted lanternfly control. Learn to recognize good bugs!

Parasitoid Wasps

Tiny wasps lay their eggs inside spotted lanternfly eggs, killing them. Two introduced species showing promise are Anastatus orientalis and Dryinus browni. Don’t disturb parasitized SLF eggs.

Predatory Insects

Insects like praying mantises, spiders, ambush bugs, assassin bugs, and lacewings prey on SLF nymphs and eggs. Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides that kill these beneficials.

Birds

Woodpeckers, blue jays, and other insect-eating birds help control SLF. Put up bird feeders and bird houses to attract them.

Repellent Plants

Some plants seem to repel SLF, including lavender, catnip, garlic, and others. Research is ongoing, but interplanting these throughout the landscape may help.

Preventing Spotted Lanternfly Spread

Vigilance is vital to stop spotted lanternflies from spreading to new areas on items like vehicles, furniture, firewood, and nursery stock.

• Inspect your vehicle carefully before driving out of the quarantine zone. Check wheels, bumpers, windshields, grills, trailers, etc.
• Keep vehicles parked in areas away from tree lines when possible. Parking on pavement helps limit SLF access.
• Cover or store outdoor furniture, grills, etc. when not in use. Inspect thoroughly before moving these items.
• Avoid parking near tree lines or under infested trees. Spotted lanternfly adults frequently drop down onto vehicles.
• In fall, carefully look over outdoor items stored near trees, like grills, furniture, dog houses, firewood, etc. Destroy any egg masses found.
• Cooperate with agricultural inspectors at state borders. They may inspect vehicles and materials for hitchhiking spotted lanternflies.

Staying vigilant and taking proactive steps to control Spotted Lanternfly is key to limiting their damage in infested areas and preventing spread. Persistence is important, as young nymphs will continue to hatch out over a period of months. Combining physical removal, insecticides, biocontrol, and prevention techniques can protect valuable trees and crops.

Frequently Asked Questions About Controlling Spotted Lanternfly

Controlling spotted lanternfly raises many questions for homeowners and farmers in affected areas. Here are answers to some often asked questions.

Are spotted lanternflies harmful to humans or pets?

Spotted lanternflies do not sting, bite, or directly harm people or animals. They can be a nuisance, but are not dangerous. Their sap feeding does not spread disease.

How do I safely remove spotted lanternfly from trees?

Use a long-handled pool skimmer net to catch them, or knock them off into a bucket of soapy water using a broom or stick. Wear eye protection in case they jump towards your face.

Can I kill spotted lanternfly with homemade remedies?

Remedies like dish soap and water, vinegar sprays, or alcohol solutions can kill some insects. But there is little evidence these homemade mixes work well on spotted lanternfly nymphs and adults. Sticking with commercial insecticides labeled for SLF is best.

How often should I treat my trees for spotted lanternfly?

Treat trees with insecticidal sprays every 3-4 weeks during times of active infestation. Systemic soil drenches or trunk injections provide longer protection. Monitor weekly and retreat if needed.

What’s the best way to scrape egg masses?

Use a plastic card or putty knife. Try not to damage the tree. Place the scraped off masses into a bag and crush them or put in alcohol. Dispose of all remains in the garbage.

Can parasitic wasps fully control spotted lanternfly?

Parasitic wasps help decrease SLF numbers naturally but likely cannot fully control them alone. Allow wasps to parasitize eggs, but also use other methods like tree banding, physical removal, and insecticides.

How do I identify spotted lanternfly eggs masses?

New egg masses have a gray mud-like covering, while older ones appear brownish gray. Check tree trunks, rocks, vehicles, and other flat surfaces, especially September through winter.

Does crushing or burning spotted lanternfly spread the infestation?

Yes! Avoid crushing them. The smell attracts more SLF. Burning can spread females before they lay eggs. Use rubbing alcohol, soapy water, or sticky traps to destroy them instead.

How do I protect grapes and fruit trees from spotted lanternfly?

Use systemic insecticides applied to the soil for longer-term protection. Follow up with contact sprays like bifenthrin, carbaryl, pyrethrin to kill nymphs and adults on the foliage, shoots, and developing fruit. Focus on the undersides.

Conclusion

Spotted lanternfly poses a significant threat to vineyards, orchards, forests, and more in the eastern U.S. Learning to identify its life stages, inspect plants for infestations, and take proactive management steps is key. Persistence with physical removal, smart use of insecticides, encouraging natural predators, and vigilantly limiting spread are our best defenses against this invasive pest. Combining multiple control methods against SLF can protect valuable trees and crops now and in the future.