Have you seen me? I’m the Spotted Lanternfly, and I used to live in Asia. I have, however, moved to other parts of the world, including 17 states in the United States. I am considered invasive by some of these new areas, even though I only want to eat and play. There have been steps to reduce the damage I guess I cause as I leave traces of my presence on the plants and trees that I feed on. I don’t mean to, but I guess it just can’t be helped.
The Spotted Lanternfly
The Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) moved into the United States by way of Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014, mostly likely arriving in a shipment of fruit. Its original home was in China, India, and Vietnam, but it has become invasive in other countries, including Japan and South Korea.
As of 2023, here in the US, the pest has now been found in 15 states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia.
What Makes it Dangerous?
While these little, quite pretty insects do not bite or sting, they are considered dangerous in other ways. When they feed, they leave a sticky, messy honeydew residue that can be a nuisance and harmful to plants when the bugs swarm in large numbers. A single fly is a bother, but swarms can be more difficult to deal with. Cornell University noted that while the flies are not damaging trees, they could be damaging other crops like grapes.
Here is the problem. The Spotted Lanternfly, consuming large amounts of sap from trees and plants, expels large amounts of excess sugary water or honeydew, not to be confused with sap. This sticky, sweet goo can be found everywhere, including on cars, outdoor equipment, decking, pets, and even in your hair. Yuck!
This honeydew now becomes a prime growth medium for sooty mold fungi and, in turn, a sweet, tasty draw for more bothersome and undesirable insects such as wasps and bees. Now, while we want the bees kept safe to pollinate, we try to keep them in areas where people and bees are both safe. No one wants wasps, however.
In addition to being a nuisance, while there is no proof that the Spotted Lanternfly feeds on any crops directly, the sooty mold growth on grapes and other fruit can make it unsellable. They feed on trees, their favorite, it seems, being the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus).
They can also be found feeding on black walnut, maples (first silver and then red maple), willow, river birch, black cherry, tulip poplar, and other trees. While they don’t seem to be causing damage to crops like hops, apples, or peaches at this time, studies continue to ensure that this is not an issue now or in the future.
Damage to plants that you might see as an example of a possible infestation include oozing on leaves, wilting, defoliation, dieback of the leaves, reduction in cold hardiness of a plant, or plant death. Of course, you can also see the sooty mold fungi on leaves or fruit.
How to Deal with the Spotted Lanternfly
You can do to help stop the spread of the fly. When traveling, keep the windows of your car closed as they will hide out with you as you travel. Make sure you thoroughly wash and produce you pick up along the way removing not only the insects but eggs that may have been laid in your product. Also, if you find any egg masses, destroy them to keep them from hatching. If you feel you have an infestation or the problem has gone beyond your ability to control, please contact the State Regulatory Office for your area.
Wrapping it Up
Well, I just wanted to say hello, and I’ll try not to be a pest. If you see me, let the authorities know so that they can continue their studies and maybe find a way to send me back home where I belong.
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