It’s spotted lanternfly season in the U.S. and if you live in the Northeast, you might have already begun to see the invasive plant-eating insects swarming into your garden. The red and black plant hopper species first appeared in the United States around 2014. It has since exploded in number, destroying vineyards and threatening trees, , and the livelihoods of winemakers and farmers.
We spoke to , an entomologist and invasives expert at Cornell and New York’s Integrated Pest Management program. He offers tips on when and how to kill spotted lanternflies, protect plants in your garden, and check your car for lanternfly egg masses to prevent the blight from spreading.
What is a spotted lanternfly?
Credit:
Getty Images / INZYX
Lanternflies go through pronounced physical changes from one life stage to the next.
The spotted lanternfly is a species of Asian plant-hopping insect that eats plant sugars and causes outbreaks of plant mold. It is an invasive species in the U.S.
The lanternfly goes through distinct life stages. An adult spotted lanternfly will look significantly different from early instar nymphs. Nymphs are black with white spots and look like cartoon aliens. Adult lanternflies have red hind wings, with larger spotted wings covering them.
Young lanternflies can hop long distances but cannot fly. Adult lanternflies are capable of flying short distances.
Should you kill spotted lanternflies?
When lanternflies first appeared, states issued notices encouraging people to stomp them. The killing frenzy became so widespread that even made a skit about it featuring Andrew Yang.
The good news is that today, that burden might not be on the average person. “We feel we have a handle on it,” says Eshenaur, “We don’t feel we’re going to lose any vines anymore to spotted lanternfly feeding.”
For this reason, Eshenaur is cautious about recommending that citizens go out of their way to kill the bugs—especially kids. “I would hate to have a knee-jerk reaction take place, where a child learns at a young age, OK, I see an insect, I gotta stomp on it. I think if kids learn the wrong message, there could be a cost.”
That said, infestations can warrant harsher measures. He offers a few tips on what to do.
How to stop spotted lanternfly infestations
Install spotted lanternfly traps
For garden infestations, traps are the best bet.
are the safest and most widely available traps. This trap style uses a small hole the lanternfly climbs through and can’t escape.
Adhesive traps attach to tree trunks, causing lanternflies climbing upward to become stuck, or they can be installed a slight distance from the trunk and catch lanternflies that launch themselves away from it.
Before you buy an , make sure it has a covering to prevent “bycatch.” You can fasten one yourself using . A screen must be attached to any adhesive trap used outside. Without a covering, adhesive traps will attract and kill birds, including woodpeckers.
To create a covering, purchase a screen and run it , forming a skirt that only allows access from the bottom.
Spotted Lanternfly Trap
These handmade circle traps ship from Pennsylvania, the ground zero of the lanternfly invasion.
Spotted Lanternfly Tree Trap
This circle trap is purpose-built to catch lanternflies.
Use a shop vac for lanternfly swarms
Credit:
Getty Images / Bgwalker
When adult lanternflies swarm in great numbers a vacuum is the best solution.
“Shopvacs can be effective to remove hundreds of spotted lanternfly adults,” Eshenaur said. Use a shop vac like the and hoover them off the bark. Without food, they should die within 48 hours or so.
VacMaster VBV1210 12 gallon
The best shop vac we’ve tested, the Vac Master will suck up large infestations.
Use a hand vacuum for nymphs
Nymphs tend to prefer garden plants and vegetables, such as cucumber. Eshenaur recommends small hand vacuums like the for removing nymphs from gardens.
Black+Decker AdvancedClean Cordless Handheld Vacuum
The Black & Decker CHV1410L is a powerful hand vacuum that will whisk away small lanternflies without destroying plants.
Use a salt cannon
Salt cannons like the are a popular way to stop lanternflies. These work like a shotgun, and shoot a burst of standard table salt that kills bugs on impact.
However, Eshenaur wonders, “Is that going to affect the overall population?” Lanternfly infestations usually involve such large numbers that shooting them one at a time doesn’t do much for the overall problem. Still, the Bug-a-salt Salt Cannon could be a good choice for a business with a smaller infestation, such as a cafe that often finds them on the patio.
Bug-A-Salt Yellow 3.0
This cannon launches salt at bugs to kill them.
Insecticide is probably not the answer
“Most homeowners will not need to use an insecticide,” says Eshenaur.
Insecticides have been effective for agriculture. Specifically, farmers often use a light spray on a vineyard’s outer ring. Lanternflies that hop into this outer ring die. The issue is that lanternflies quickly come back.
If you do decide to use an insecticide, be extremely careful. Check the label to ensure it’s formulated for lanternflies, and follow the instructions exactly. Poor insecticide application risks harming the beneficial bugs that keep gardens healthy.
Look for spotted lanternfly eggs on cars
Credit:
Getty Images / Artlutz73
Spotted lanternfly eggs can be easy to miss, especially on bark.
Spotted lanternflies lay egg masses on surfaces including wood, stone, and automobiles. “Every egg mass has about 35 eggs on average. You’re establishing an instant population somewhere else.”
Inspect your vehicle before you travel out of lanternfly country. Pay special attention to the area around the wheel well. Lanternfly eggs on cars are a significant risk for population growth.
Laid egg masses aren’t the only threat. In the height of summer, lanternflies can hop into cars and hitch a ride. Keep the bug out of your trunk and car cabin.
Don’t kill other bugs
Just because states have said it’s OK to kill lanternflies doesn’t mean you should kill other bugs. Eshenaur says it is important to distinguish between the native insects that are crucial parts of our ecology and invasive pests like lanternflies that destroy native plants.
Insect populations are declining globally. Native insects like are important parts of our ecosystem.
What to know about spotted lanternflies
What do spotted lanternflies eat?
Scientists have documented lanternflies feeding on over 100 host plants, including willows, maples, black walnuts, vegetables, and grapes. They do not feed on evergreens.
The Tree of Heaven (ailanthus altissima) is especially attractive to lanternflies. Lanternflies with access to the invasive Tree of Heaven can lay seven times the eggs they would lay if their preferred host were not around.
Lanternflies feed by sucking sugars from plants. This can deprive the roots of the sugars they need to get through the winter. In the case of grapes, this can cause the vine to be barren of fruit.
Additionally, lanternfly excrement can cause sooty mold, further harming plants.
Are spotted lanternflies here to stay?
Credit:
Getty Images / Johnandersonphoto
Most likely, the spotted lanternfly isn’t going anywhere.
“It’s an insect we’re going to need to learn to live with,” says Eshenaur.
The good news is that populations should stabilize. In their native habitats in Asia, the lanternfly is a rare insect. In the U.S., are learning to treat lanternflies as food yearly.
What to do when you find a spotted lanternfly?
When lanternflies first appeared, states mobilized hotlines for lanternfly sightings to help contain the spread. In states like New York and Pennsylvania, lanternflies are already common. However, many other states ask that you report sightings of lanternflies and other invasives. In states on the frontline, like , this is very important.
If you see a lanternfly in a place where they’re not yet common, take a photo, and look for your state’s pest management program to report it. Before you kill it, be sure that it isn’t a look-a-like bug, and consult your state’s pest management page.