PSA: If you see this bug, squish it

PSA: If you see this bug, squish it.

That is the official direction from New York State, the folks in charge of Central Park, and agencies throughout the region as these invasive species – the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) – make their way around the East Coast.

The first infestation of SLFs – a native species of China, India and Vietnam – was reported in 2014 in Berks County, Pennsylvania in a wooded area full of Tree of Heaven (proper name: Ailanthus altissima), another invasive species in our neck of the woods. Since 2014, SLFs have since been found in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and New York. The first documented infestation in New York State was discovered on Staten Island in August of 2020.

Along with intense infestations in New Jersey, New York City has recently seen an influx of SLFs, and according to the Cornell Cooperative Extension, the pest has now established itself in our area with infestations reported in Ulster, Orange, Rockland and Westchester counties. According to the official state mapping system, iMapInvasives, two SLF sightings were recently reported in Poughkeepsie, one in Newburgh, and one in the Catskills.

Why is this bug a problem?

The Spotted Lanternfly gather in large groups and use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on agricultural and forest crops, weakening plants and making them vulnerable to disease. SLFs feed on over 100 plant species including apples, grapes, hops, maples (with a preference for silver maples), and black walnut trees. Infestations could severely impact our local agriculture: In addition to the timber and newly-established hops industry, New York produces more than 30 million bushels of apples per year, and the harvest of state-grown grapes brings home around $52.8 million annually. NYS even has a quarantine in place to help stop the spread of the species by limiting the movement of brush, firewood, outdoor equipment and the sale of fruit-bearing trees from SLF-infested areas.

In Pennsylvania, where SLF populations are the densest, people can't be outside without getting the honeydew secreted by SLFs on their hair, clothes, and other belongings.

According to the Cornell Cooperative Extension, SLFs will soon reach adulthood in our region and lay eggs with 30 to 60 eggs per mass.

What do they look like?

While named after flies, SLFs are categorized as planthoppers and look more like moths. First SLR instar nymphs, active May through July, are approximately 1/4-inch long and black with white spots. Fourth instar nymphs begin to turn a red color with white spots. Adult SLFs mature from July through the first frost, and measure around 1-inch at rest with black-spotted, pinkish-tan wings, and yellow abdomens with black stripes.

Signs of an infestation:

Sap oozing or weeping from tiny open wounds on tree trunks, which appears wet and may give off fermented odors.
One-inch-long egg masses that are brownish-gray, waxy and mud-like when new. Old egg masses are brown and scaly.
Massive honeydew build-up under plants, sometimes with black sooty mold.

If you see one:

Take a photo.
Kill it by crushing or stepping on it. (Fear not: SLFs do not sting or bite. They feed exclusively on plants.)
Collect the sample by placing it in a freezer or jar
Report it to: spottedlanternfly@agriculture.ny.gov or use the online form at agriculture.ny.gov/spottedlanternfly. Include the location (street address, landmarks, intersecting roads or GPS coordinates)*
After you have reported the SLF and collected a sample, kill any additional SLF you see by stepping on them or crushing them otherwise.

*People living in New York City do not need to report sightings to the department at this time, according to the Dept. Of Agriculture

Using Tree of Heaven to manage SLFs

If you kill the host, do you kill the invasive species? Many growers believe that if they cut down the Tree of Heaven (TOH), a prominent host of SLFs and a key to their reproduction, that they will eliminate the invasives from their property. However, the researchers say, removing all TOH will force SLF to look for a new host, possibly the nearby vineyard, a potential detrimental economic and agricultural cost. In addition, cutting down TOH before effectively killing the tree will alternatively result in the production of numerous, aggressive-growing suckers.

So far this summer, over 150 survey grid squares have been claimed by participants across the state, and over 850 spotted lanternfly not-detected reports have been submitted – great news! Learn more and join the effort at iMapInvasives website.

Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive insect that feeds on grapes, hops, maple trees, and other woody plants, posing a severe threat to NY natural resources. Visit the Department of Ag & Markets website for more info. SLF is not yet found in most of the state outside of NYC, but one potential pathway is SLF’s preferred host plant, tree-of-heaven (ToH), which is found in many locations across NY. We are seeking volunteers like you to look for SLF and ToH in your area a couple times throughout the year. You can help protect New York's agriculture and forests by knowing what to look for and how to report it to New York’s official invasive species database, iMapInvasives.

Special events (updated)

The DEC will host a Spotted Lanternfly webinar on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at 10am featuring experts at the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets.Register at the iMapInvasives website.