Spotted lanternflies, also known as lycorma deliculata, are invasive and damaging insects that were first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014. They start as black and white spotted nymphs and turn scarlet and white as they mature. Spind soldier bugs are popular candidates for biological lanternfly control, and the native species is known for its thick skin. However, there have been reports of dead spotted lanternflies in Massachusetts, and experts believe that killing them is a short-term strategy while scientists work on long-term, sustainable solutions.
These planthoppers are classified as planthoppers in the order Hemiptera, which includes spiders, praying mantids, assassin bugs, predatory stink bugs, and birds. The life cycle of spotted lanternflies is divided into several stages, with the most common enemies being spiders, praying mantids, assassin bugs, predatory stink bugs, and birds. Scientists are researching the best method for killing spotted lanternflies, and they may have gotten new leads this year through the insects’ attraction to vibrations.
If you find a spotted lanternfly or suspicious egg mass in an unknown location, collect it and place it in a container. Another common reaction is to unleash pesticides on their favorite host plant, the tree of heaven. Spotted lanternflies feed by sucking sap from plants with a straw-like mouthpart called a proboscis, located between the two front legs. In the United States, assassin bugs and stink bugs have been seen attacking spotted lanternflies. The best currently used traps include circle traps and oviposition traps, which corral the lanternflies so they can be contained and destroyed.
| Article | Description | Site |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Predatory Stink Bugs spotted eating … | Some residents in our area of Lynchburg, Virginia snapped photos of Florida Predatory Stink Bugs eating invasive Spotted Lanternfly nymphs! | reddit.com |
| FYI. if ya see these predatory stink bugs, leave them be. … | If ya see these predatory stink bugs, leave them be. They are killing the spotted lantern fly. Have 3 confirmed attacks! | facebook.com |
| Everything You Need to Know About Spotted Lanternflies in … | Spotted lanternflies feed by sucking sap from plants with a straw-like mouthpart called a proboscis. The proboscis is located between the two front legs. | thedailypest.vikingpest.com |
📹 All About the Spotted Lanternfly & How to Get Rid of Them!
Lycorma delicatula, also known as the Spotted Lanternfly, was introduced into the United States in 2014, and has slowly been …
Is It Worth Killing Lanternflies?
Lanternflies, often viewed as pests, play a dual role by feeding on excess fruit, which helps mitigate waste. However, their tendency to lay numerous eggs leads to overpopulation, prompting farmers to often eliminate them to control their numbers. Experts suggest that the choice is either to kill lanternflies on sight or let them proliferate. Eradication isn't feasible at a grassroots level; instead, the focus is on containment.
While immediate removal can be achieved using approved insecticides or by securing their egg masses for analysis, many state and city officials advocate for immediate personal action against any spotted lanternflies encountered.
The recommended approach for killing these insects includes using insecticides, oils, or soaps, but care must be taken as these products can also harm beneficial insects. It’s advisable to choose plant-based alternatives for environmental safety. Spotted lanternflies, originally from China, Vietnam, and Taiwan, can survive on potted trees exchanged every few weeks, but they thrive less compared to their natural environment.
Successfully managing spotted lanternflies involves identifying them and opting for natural, non-toxic deterrents. Researchers are continually looking for effective methods of control, especially due to the insects' attraction to vibrations. Methods such as stomping or vacuuming them are straightforward strategies to reduce their population.
Although spotted lanternflies do not harm humans or animals, their potential economic damage has been considerable, with estimates indicating losses over $324 million in Pennsylvania alone. The debate around whether to kill these invasive insects emphasizes practicality over morality, as addressing the issue collaboratively can help protect local ecosystems.
Do Stink Bugs Eat Spotted Lanternflies?
The lifecycle of the spotted lanternfly reveals that these pests initially feed on plants but shift their diet to include other insects like caterpillars as they mature. In Lynchburg, some residents have reported sightings of Florida Predatory Stink Bugs consuming lanternfly nymphs. Research led by Johnson explores potential natural predators such as spiders, predatory stink bugs, and praying mantises that have been observed feeding on lanternflies.
Despite their presence, these predators are unable to significantly control lanternfly populations, which remain overwhelming. Spotted lanternflies, which belong to the Hemiptera order, proliferate without sufficient native predators or parasites to regulate their numbers, making them highly invasive. They primarily consume sap from a variety of host plants, favoring tree of heaven, walnuts, and grapevines. In an effort to combat these pests, some residents resort to using pesticides on their preferred plants.
Scientists are actively studying these insects and have noted their status as serious pests, particularly of grape plants, due to their swarm-feeding behavior, which can lead to large populations. Additionally, it's important to differentiate between spotted lanternflies and other similar insects, as well as recognize their non-relation to true stink bugs, despite their "stinky" defense mechanism.
What Insecticide Kills Spotted Lanternflies?
EPA-approved insecticides, including active ingredients such as imidacloprid, bifenthrin, dinotefuran, neem oil, and soybean oil, effectively target spotted lanternflies (SLF). Residents in infested areas employ various control methods like destroying egg masses, trapping, eliminating favored host trees, and using insecticides. Adult lanternflies typically emerge from June to August, during which insecticide applications become crucial.
For immediate removal, insecticides like Ortho® BugClear™ are highly effective and can kill on contact. However, caution is needed as many insecticides may also harm beneficial insects, prompting the consideration of plant-based products that minimize environmental impact.
In managing these pests, two primary methods include soil injection of dinotefuran or direct spraying of insecticides. During the peak season of June to August, treating trees infested with lanternflies is vital, as new adults are actively seeking food sources. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of SLF in Berks County on September 22, 2014.
In addition to traditional insecticides, mixtures like dish soap can effectively control lanternflies. Contact insecticides serve as spot treatments for SLF adults or nymphs on plants. While no specific insecticide targets only lanternflies, systemic insecticides containing imidacloprid or dinotefuran are recommended to protect trees against these pests.
Do Spotted Lanternflies Kill Trees?
Healthy ornamental trees typically do not die from spotted lanternflies, although branch dieback and health decline have been noted, particularly in black walnut and maple, which are favored hosts. If you see these pests on your plants, effective removal methods include stomping them or using a soap and water mixture that is sufficiently soapy to prevent them from drying off. Adult and nymph lanternflies damage trees by feeding on sap from various parts.
While they have been known to kill sapling trees, sumac, grapevines, and tree-of-heaven, established ornamental trees have generally shown resilience. Recent research from Penn State suggests hardwoods like maple, willow, and birch may not be as vulnerable as initially believed. Despite their feeding habits, spotted lanternflies do not appear to harm most trees nor agricultural crops. However, they significantly impact grapes and related crops. The honeydew they excrete can lead to sooty mold growth, attracting secondary pests.
Spotted lanternflies are known to feed on over 100 plant species but rarely kill them outright. While they do not directly kill trees, they induce stress that necessitates good management practices, such as effective water and soil management, to maintain tree health. Thus, while the presence of spotted lanternflies is concerning, they are less destructive than previously assumed, especially regarding mature trees.
Why Are Lantern Flies Bad?
The spotted lanternfly poses a significant concern due to its destructive feeding habits on over 70 plant species, which results in stress and potential death of the plants. First identified on the U. S. East Coast in 2014, these insects primarily target grapevines, fruit trees, and hardwoods, threatening agricultural yields. Lacking natural predators, they spread rapidly, often facilitated by human activity. Spotted lanternflies are distinctive in appearance, featuring red, black, and white spots, yet this deceptively appealing look conceals their damaging impact on agriculture and ecosystems.
They primarily feed on tree-of-heaven—another invasive species—but also harm a variety of other plants, leading to indirect effects such as increased susceptibility to fungal diseases due to their sap-sucking behavior. Though large populations may not outright kill trees, they do severely affect plant health, making them particularly concerning for the wine and beer industries, where crop health is vital.
Efforts to manage and eliminate spotted lanternflies are crucial as they continue to appear in swarms across the Northeast. Experts recommend immediate action when spotted, to protect valuable agricultural resources from these invasive pests that can diminish plant productivity and ecosystem balance.
Do Spotted Lanternflies Eat Tiger Moths?
The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), native to China, India, and Vietnam, is often mistaken for ticks, stink bugs, and moths due to its various life stages. As pests, they primarily target a wide range of plants, especially the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), but also feed on crops such as soybeans, grapes, and stone fruits. Parasitic wasps in their native habitat help regulate their population.
They feed by extracting sap from plants using a straw-like mouthpart called a proboscis, excreting a sugary substance known as honeydew that can lead to the growth of black sooty mold. While the mold is not harmful to humans, it can affect plant health.
Symptoms of lanternfly feeding include sap oozing from trunks, wilting foliage, branch dieback, and potentially the mortality of young trees and vines when infestations are severe. Spotted lanternflies' lifecycles involve laying eggs from September to mid-November, and they can feed on over 100 plant species. Distinguishing them from look-alikes is crucial, as other native insects, such as tiger moths, provide ecological benefits. Ultimately, the spotted lanternfly's feeding habits can impose significant stress on host plants, causing substantial damage as they lack natural predators outside their native range.
What Smell Do Spotted Lanternflies Hate?
To repel and eliminate spotted lanternflies, you can create a natural spray by adding a few drops of essential oils like tea tree, peppermint, or lavender to water. The potent aroma of these oils disrupts the survival of lanternflies and other insects. Additionally, apple cider vinegar and neem oil are effective deterrents due to their scents, which spotted lanternflies find unpleasant. These invasive pests can damage plants by producing a sticky substance known as honeydew, which also harbors a vinegar-like smell.
According to expert Gene Caballero from GreenPal, early identification of these pests is crucial. While spotted lanternflies do not harm honey bees, they pose issues for outdoor activities due to their overwhelming presence. With black bodies and spotted gray wings, they may resemble colorful butterflies, but they are actually planthoppers. To combat their spread, using neem oil in your garden can deter these pests effectively.
Lavender oil is particularly touted for its repelling properties, although spearmint oil may have an attracting effect contrary to popular belief. Pesticide usage is another common response against spotted lanternflies, particularly targeting their primary host, the tree of heaven, which is distasteful to predators.
Ultimately, prevention and management strategies remain vital to control the population of spotted lanternflies, which can lead to ecological disruptions. Regular monitoring and targeted treatments can mitigate their impact and help protect your plants from this invasive species.
What Do Spotted Lanternflies Destroy?
Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive planthopper that harms various plants, notably grapes, hops, stone fruits, and hardwood trees. When feeding, it produces a sticky fluid known as honeydew, leading to sooty mold which can further damage vegetation. To combat spotted lanternflies, experts recommend immediate removal using insecticides or securing egg masses for local analysis. Although they bite or sting, spotted lanternflies pose no threat to humans or animals.
Those who spot them on their property should act quickly, as they can inflict damage to crops and plants. Management strategies include enhancing plant health, destroying eggs, using traps, and chemical controls when necessary. The insect's feeding behavior not only disrupts plant health but also attracts other pests and encourages fungal diseases. Most notably affected by the spotted lanternfly are grapevines, tree of heaven, and young black walnut trees.
While current research is investigating the insects’ attraction to vibrations for more efficient removal methods, preventative measures such as destroying egg masses laid in the fall are crucial. It’s important to monitor and manage outbreaks since they threaten native ecosystems and agricultural productivity, particularly in Pennsylvania where their impact is significant.
📹 What To Do If You Come Across A Spotted Lanternfly
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive species with eating habits that destroy plants and could ultimately threaten agriculture in the …
I got yelled at on the boardwalk in Staten Island for stomping on one. “You just killed a living creature!” I tried to explain, but she just walked away. People were looking at me like I just clubbed a baby seal. Meanwhile, there are people fishing at the end of the pier, impaling sand worms with fish hooks, buckets of fish slowly suffocating, but I’m the bad guy. I’m guessing if she ever gets lice, she’ll keep them as pets and name them.
I’m in Bethlehem, PA and I’ve noticed some birds in my area have finally started eating them. Hopefully other birds see this and catch on. Additionally, city officials in Easton, PA started injecting trees with a poison that doesn’t harm the tree, just anything that drinks it’s sap. Hopefully other cities use the same strategy as it seems to be working. The only downside is hundreds (if not thousands) of dead SLFs are randomly scattered everywhere.
My opinion. We had a million or more on a tree. Heres what I did three years ago. Heres my method 1. Back sprayer 2 fill it with water to the top 3 i put 8 ounces of dish detergent in the water 4. I put 8 ounces of vinegar in the water 5. I put 8 ounces of bleach 6. I put 8 ounces of ammonia in the water. In the spring when they started hatching I waited forca super windy day BLIWING into the woods were millions made a home. The mist had to get to many places. I also made this mixture in a spray bottle to keep in the car. You cant step on a of them BUT once this solution touches them IT KILLS THEM . I spray the woods in the early spring. I spray the woods again when I see even One Spotted Bug in our yard,woods,pool anyehere in our area. This summer I went from millions and millions to hundreds. Oh. When I spray them with a spray bottle I keep in the car I put the nozzle on stream NOT SPRAY. ALso they travel by walking. CUT YOUR GRASS AT NIGHT. i have lights on my Z turn. I could see 10000s on the grass that because food forthe lawn mower set at 2 inches. Ok. Ok. Ok. For some people you may think this is work !!!!! I had so many of these critters they touched one another. Noww I only see them here and there. IT WORKS FOR ME IT SHOULD WORK FOR YOU. Ronnie. Gotzongetzit manufactuing our of the Poconos of Pennsylvania
Thanks for the informative article Andrew. All last year I was at my local golf course in Chester County PA playing golf pretty much from the end of spring until the weather got cold. During that time the flies overtook the property. You could find them crawling on every green, all you had to do was stomp them out, none of them really flew. It was quite disgusting to see.
I’m in NJ. I work in Princeton and live in Gloucester (60miles south). I saw one last year in Princeton and alerted the state, none near my home. This year in Spring while at work I saw thousands of nymphs on a Tree of Heaven at my work. Every branch had hundreds. Needless to say, this year Princeton is SWARMED with them. I routinely kill 20+ a day at work. At my home in Gloucester, where I saw none last year, I see maybe 3-10 a day. I check my trees and usually catch 2 to 3 and through out the day see a few more. Saw a couple in spider webs around the house also. I am the weirdo that gets out of his car in the drive thru to stomp on them when I see them lol As a gardener I try to spread awareness to others via my social media and hope other people are stomping!
I’ve got an electric bug zapper recently and that has been a satisfying process.im a nature lover, don’t even hurt flies, but these things are DISGUSTING. I even have nightmares about them 🙁 we have grapevines and I’m so sad I didn’t realize what they were earlier this spring/summer. All you warriors, lanternfly assasins, STAY STROOOONG❤️ Catch em alll!
I live in Philly and they’re everywhere here. From one end of the city to the other. There was a news report recently of a swarm collecting in front of a Chipotle and dying off. There were so many, thousands, blocking the doors that the restaurant had to use a side entrance in the meantime. Can’t escape them and anytime I see a lanternfly or group on the ground, I stomp on them. There’s no other way to kill them here than with your feet if you’re just walking around and randomly come across any on the ground. Unfortunately, most people don’t walk around with shopvac’s or chemicals on hand.
This was such an informative article. Thank you for posting. They have invaded our young Maples. My fly zapper works great for the kill. You know they’re dead when their wings pop out. I attach sticky tape and above wrap plastic around the trees and leave a space (so they can climb to their death). The ecosystem around them is fascinating. I watched a yellow jacket feast on another insect stuck to the tape. Also a few stink bugs sometimes there for the ride.
Pesticides can actually be extremely effective in controlling spotted lanterflies when used properly and in accordance with the label. Pesticides are especially helpful when trees or plants are experiencing fatal levels of stress due to mass spotted lanternfly infestations. There are two kinds of pesticides in regards to plant absorption characteristics. Systemic and non-systemic. When sprayed on the surface of a plant, systemic pesticides sit on the surface and simultaneously begin working their way into the plant, eventually reaching through the entire plant system. These pesticides can also be watered into the ground for the roots to drink up and deliver throughout the rest of the plant. This needs to be done early on large trees so the pesticide has time to spread before the lanterfly is ready to feed. This can take up to several months in a large tree. Systemic application effectively vaccinates the plant against pests such as leaf miners and also against sap-sucking insects like the spotted lanterfly. Even after the pesticide wears off the surface of the plant the inside is still protected for many months. When the lanterfly feeds from the plant it also feeds on the pesticide and dies. There is one major point of concern with this class of pesticides, however. If the plant flowers, and is actively flowering, the pesticide will also make it’s way into the flowers and pollen and kill pollinators like bees. In this case it’s best to use non-systemic pesticides and only apply them to the stem where bees rarely tend to land.
i work at a pallet recycling company and these things are everywhere i stomped prolly around 30 today during my lunch break. i found that if u come at them from behind with a kick they get thrown off balance and cant reset their wings fast enough making them an easy stomp after. I will say i was impressed by their resilience i stomped on one then turned away to kill some other and when i turned back it had gotten back up and was starting to crawl away.
Tree of Heaven. You solved a mystery for me. I do battle with it in my yard all the time bc it is so prolific. It’s a weed disguised as tree!! I amused myself by seeing that it is everywhere during an Amtrak trip across the country a few years ago. I was bored with nothing to do bc everything was closed for Covid so I took a train. In addition, it stinks & in the fall not only does it lose its leaves but also the most extreme part of its branches. It’s like a litter of chop sticks all over. No Lantern Flies here in Northern California yet.
This article was informative but it’s not helping my situation. We cut a small tree down next to our front door where they were…in the small black spider with white dots stage. So now they’re all over the hand rail, the drive way, the door rim. How do we get rid of them since they’re not on a tree anymore??
At my camp, theres a stump and skinny tree that seems to be where spotted lanternfly family reunions take place; I’ve killed as many as 100 just from there. Further down in the camp, we have an archery field, and when there are strong winds blowing in the direction of the forest behind it, you can see so many spotted lanternflies seemingly appear from the clouds as they glide toward the trees. My friends and I have, in total, killed at least a thousand of them (we’re in New Jersey) and each time we stomp on them, we scream, “Genocide!” We may be mentally unstable.
Even since I seen my first one I thought it was a weevil of some sort then found out what it really was and now I kil everyone I see I even killed the one attacking my sunflowers but stomping them can be a bit difficult as they are quite fast reaction time wise and it seems the older they get in their life cycle the slower they react as the little babies (black and white) respond and move faster than the adult which is interesting
I failed getting one of there earlier today. Failed miserably. I learned a lot though so im now armed with knowledge and hope th have a better kill rate. I’m in Jersey City, NJ btw. Just starting seeing them and also check my car before leaving to avoid hitchhiking. I killed one in my car door jam before leaving for work.
It’s taken me 2 weeks to get rid of them on my fig tree. I felt terrible killing them by my local Department of Environmental Control told me Lanterflies are becoming too invasive and now the Dept. of Agriculture has them under their watch. I knocking them off the tree to the ground to stomp them, but ended up with the glue tape. Once they become full grown they are much easier to catch. I’m hoping not much damage to my fig tree.
I remember when I was baking cookies with my youngest brother Jeremiah and my two other little brothers Zach and Jed were perusal us. Just then, we saw a spotted lanternfly sitting on the deck. I said, “I think that’s a lanternfly.” And Jeremiah said, “yeah. It is.” And Jed said, “it’s so beautiful, but it needs to die.” So Zach grabbed a fire extinguisher 🧯, went outside, and smashed it to death.
I had them on my balcony. and, I made my own solution. A spray bottle fill with warm water, Dawn dish liquid, and I put liquid insecticide solution in the bottle. A little. The sticky solution got rid of them even when dry they can’t land on my balcony anymore and it kills them. Boom!!! No more annoying lattern fly’s. I know the guy said no insecticide but a little did work. The dish liquid and water alone did not work.
Yup, I’ve seen them at the end the summer for about the last two years now. I’m in NJ but I live in in Union County and work in Middlesex County both of which are outside of their known range according to the map in the article but I’m thinking this is an old article. I actually just killed one yesterday outside my job in Woodbridge. They’re so cool looking but they’re also just horrible for a lot of trees so they gotta go. Maybe I should report my sightings. I gotta find that link.
I squish so many of these every day at work. Interesting thing I have noticed they seem to like hanging out on the south west side of things. We have pillars and starting around 11am you will see them all on mostly the same side of the pillars. When it is slow we take a broom smack them down and squish as many as we can. I’m doing my part!
One of my favorite Bug killers is Dawn Dish soap at 60% water & 40% soap will actually knock flying bugs right out of the air & kill Wasp, stink bugs & Lanternflies and even ants and many other bugs by removing the surface tension of water and actually drown bugs. If you want an attractant Methyl Salicylate (Oil of Wintergreen) works great which will attract both male & females, so you can try an open pan or bucket with dawn dish soap & Methyl Salicylate which will lure them into the water & soap to kill them.
These things jump towards you.. I regularly walk a trail and they are very invasive. Went from killing none (until they jumped towards me) to just a few along my route until a hundred. Bugs don’t bother me but these things need to go. I may look crazy walking around with a fly swatter but this is why (lol). Thanks again China
Been a couple years, I’ve begun noticing SLF less and less as of late (in Lehigh and Bucks County, PA). This year I’ve seen a total of 2, one of which was dead in a rest stop bathroom. When times were really bad with em, I used a spray bottle filled with water and mild detergent. Utterly fucked their ability to fly so stomping was easy. I also befriended and fed a praying mantis that day.
Sorry…I used insecticide…it got to where I couldn’t get out of the house….now I can. Im in Maryland….not sure why you didn’t mention this state but you mentioned NJ, DE, PA, and even VA…skipped right over Maryland! We have tons here! I couldn’t take them jumping and hopping everywhere and I’m afraid of insects…have a phobia! Stepping on them would make me vomit! So I sprayed my property down! I will keep spraying! 🤷🏽♀️🦟
Why get rid of Tree of Heaven? Yes it’s invasive, it’s a weed tree. But if it’s a favorite of the SLF, won’t it help to keep them from attacking the trees and plants that we don’t want SLF to feed on? Couldn’t we use the tree of heaven as a “bait tree” and set up traps on those to capture them by the thousands?
Been seeing these things since before last summer. My town immediately had a notice posted that they’re invasive. My friends and I spent a day out in the yard together just whacking them with tennis rackets once because they were all over the oak tree in my yard. Thankfully, I’ve been seeing a lot less of them this year, and have been getting better at getting rid of them.
I’ve lived where this bug first showed up in PA, and we have been dealing with them for like 6 years. There’s nothing you can do. Don’t waste your time with chemicals and crap. After a few years the birds eventually realize they are a food source and there won’t be as many of them compared to the first years they show up in your area.
As a lifeguard, I’ve seen these things at their first evolutionary stage: just black spotted jumping bugs. Then overtime in late July I have seen their bodies go red and able to jump higher. Then mid August I began seeing their adult stage. They’re really annoying at adulthood stage. They aren’t great flyers but they’ll try to land on anything that seems to be ‘viable’ for them. Just crush ’em if you see them.
My coworker and I go on a walk every day to get away from our computers, and about 3 weeks ago I spotted one, recognized it, caught it, reported it, and killed it. Now we usually cross 3-6 of them on each walk, and make a game of crushing them. They jump pretty far, but stumble and have to reset when they land. That’s the best time to step on them. This morning, one landed right in front of my motorcycle (in the middle of the city!!) at a stoplight. Called it a ‘steering exercise’ to hit it when the light turned green. For once, I don’t feel bad about killing bugs XD
PT Alpine pesticide. Sprayed it around my door to my porch. They were attracted to it. Not long after they walked on it would they become paralyzed and die on their own. You’re supposed to spray it every 30 days but it’s been over a year and it still works. The pesticide is illegal for home use in certain states, so you will want to check on that first. I’m not sure if you can spray it on plants.
these spotted lanterflies are really attracted to Chinese cedar or Chinese toona trees. I have a small cherries orchard with only one Chinese toona tree planted not too far away. but each year I can only find spotted lanterflies on this single tree, it’s their nature to bond with Chinese toona. but sadly Chinese toona is also a invasive tree species. if you plant them, you have to keep an eye on them cause they tend to spread by roots very quick
I saw one for the first time about four weeks ago (I’m outside and garden a lot), and since then, I have seen a few every single day. I don’t think killing them does anything meaningful. I see them land high up on a telephone poll, and what about all of the ones in the surrounding miles of land? They’re here to stay, like it or not. The best and only meaningful solution now is to import a specialist predator species or a fungal disease that only affects the lantern fly, because they aren’t going anywhere if some people squish a few of them.
There’s a article on here of a girl who developed a home-made trap. Aluminum foil around a tree with one opening to allow the bugs to continue to crawl up the tree, but above the aluminum foil dense webbing, secured so the bugs crawl in there but can’t get out, because their instinct is to keep crawling up. Not a pretty solution but it worked.
I recently bought a property in West Virginia and walked through its wood s for property markers. Then I seen a tree that looked really wet even though we haven’t had rain. An ivy vine was growing up it and it’s leaves were wet. Very strange, then suddenly I noticed this tree was covered with these bugs. Very bad. I left it alone but there could easily be a thousand of them plus. No way I can smash them all. There has to be a better way
on non-food plants and trees use a systemic insect killer, these make the entire plant toxic to bugs that would eat it so those tall trees where these things go and you can not, they will be killed but use only on non-food items. there was a post that came out a while back that said to mix pine-sol with water in equal parts, a few drops of dish soap, and then add in some sugar and this attracts them and they drown. they dont just go after the trees that the dept of ag says, they will go after anything but fruit trees, grapes, walnut trees seems to be the main ones. they really go after the tree of heaven but we dont have too many of them here in america but the black walnut trees are a close relative and they grow every where along the road sides. their eggs looks kinda like the gypsy moth eggs and they will lay them on every thing. i have found them on the side of my house, chairs, shed, pool, and again trees of all kinds. you have to check every thing outside and every tree not just the ones listed on the dept of ag
Don’t bring in another species meant to predate in these guys unless it’s so specific like their own parasitic worm, to get these guys. Otherwise, predators of these lateen fly’s won’t do their job. They will eat our native flyers and butterfly eggs that taste way better and are plentiful. Lantern fly’s aren’t as tasty. Just please don’t bring in another species. Terrible idea whomever thought about it.
So I also believed it was harmless until I let one in the 4th stage ( when it looks like it hangs out with the ladybugs) crawl on my fore arm one day & it stopped in one particular spot on my arm, minutes later I got this itchy painful sensation that was quite intense & a welp there like a mosquito bite so…. Stop saying it doesn’t bite because I still have that mark on my arm that lingered for a week that burned 🤨
It’s all free on spotted lantern flies you know I did I squished them at a school you knew who liked the squash things kids and you can get a whole bunch of kids to squash them for the fun of it and they would do a very good job of it especially during the pandemic when they had nothing to do they would have fun squashing them things