It is likely you have recently heard about the spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula. Whether it is a 4-H entomology project in Kansas or in the local paper, this invasive insect is bad news.
Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is a planthopper originally from Asia. It is a very effective hitchhiker and likely caught a ride on a shipment of stone from Asia to Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014. SLF is an effective invasive and it has been spreading into other counties within PA and to other states. New York had its first spotting of adults and one breeding population in 2020. As of September 2021, there are 13 counties that have documented populations of SLF.
Why should you care? Penn State’s Extension notes, “SLF is a serious invasive pest with a healthy appetite for our plants and it can be a significant nuisance, affecting the quality of life and enjoyment of the outdoors. The spotted lanternfly uses its piercing-sucking mouthpart to feed on sap from over 70 different plant species. It has a strong preference for economically important plants including grapevines, maple trees, black walnut, birch, willow, and other trees. The feeding damage significantly stresses the plants which can lead to decreased health and potentially death. As SLF feeds, the insect excretes honeydew (a sugary substance) which can attract bees, wasps, and other insects. The honeydew also builds up and promotes the growth for sooty mold (fungi), which can cover the plant, forest understories, patio furniture, cars, and anything else found below SLF feeding.”
To read more from the Penn State Extension, visit here. Or watch a short video about SLF from Penn State Extension. Penn State continues to do SLF research and released an article evaluating the risks spotted lanternfly may pose to a variety of agriculture crops.
While spotted lanternfly will feed on over 70 different plant species, it prefers the tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima. Click here for tips on identifying tree-of-heaven.
What is the potential damage to NYS? New York State Department of Ag & Markets reports, “SLF has the potential to damage multiple agricultural crops in New York. NY is estimated to produce more than 30 million bushels of apples each year, while grapes in New York are valued at an annual harvest of $52.8 million. Additionally, the expanding hops industry and the maple and timber industries would also be negatively impacted by the spread of SLF.”
What is being done to contain this invasive pest? Since 2018 NYS Dept. of Ag & Markets enacted an external quarantine covering the areas of states where there were known populations of SLF. This quarantine restricts the movement of goods and vehicles that could transport SLF from certain counties in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. More counties and states are continuously being added to this quarantine. To read more from NYS Dept. of Ag & Markets, visit here.
The state has also been monitoring for SLF in NY. The work of multiple state and federal partners, including outreach to the public, trade groups, and other stakeholders, provided the early detection of SLF in New York state. This is where you come in as a citizen scientist. We need your help to make sure that we don’t continue to spread SLF and to limit the populations before they are established.
How You Can Help:
1. Help prevent the spread of SLF into St. Lawrence County. Check out this map to learn where SLF currently is. Inspect your vehicle for any hitchhikers when traveling to infested counties. This is especially important this time of year when adult females are laying egg masses. Make sure to check both inside and outside of your vehicle for these hitchhikers. Cornell Cooperative Extension has a checklist online to help you with spotting SLF.
2. Learn what to look for, and when you are outside keep an eye out.
3. When you see SLF, collect a sample if possible or take a photo and kill it. The Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM), the NYS Natural Heritage Program, and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation coordinate the iMapInvasives program. iMapInvasives has a webinar series on looking for and reporting SLF during all seasons.
4. If you spot SLF, REPORT your finding to NYS Depart of Ag & Markets.
5. Report your SLF finding in iMapInvasives. You will need to set up an account, and the website contains easy-to-follow instructions on how to utilize iMapInvasives on the web or the app for both Android or iOS systems.
6. Once you are familiar with using iMapInvasives, sign up to monitor a grid.
7. Teach others how to look for SLF and get them to use iMapInvasives!
Go to New York State Integrated Pest Management to learn more about the spotted lanternfly and get resources on how to stop the spread.