What are Spotted Lanternflies?

What are Spotted Lanternflies?

Spotted Lanternflies are an insect native to South Asia, specifically Vietnam, India and China. They start off as flightless nymphs, where they latch onto trees until they grow into their adult stage. As adults, the lanternflies grow wings and they ride wind currents to far away lands to find new trees for their offspring.

They are sap-sucking insects that puncture a hole through thin bark on trees, then suck the sap for food and poop it out as honeydew. Their main target is the invasive Tree of Heaven, but they happily feed on native trees such as maples,

How did they invade the eastern US?

Increases in global trade have resulted in faster spread of invasive insects. The Spotted Lanternflies first appeared in Pennsylvania in 2014, most likely as a stowaway on an imported tree of heaven or on a package shipped from South East Asia. From there, they spread quickly through the north east corridor through shipping containers and by hitching rides on cars.

They survive so well in the US because they have no natural predators. They are typically non-poisonous, but if they recently fed on the Tree of Heaven they will become mildly toxic and have a bad taste to birds and other predators. They're not a threat to pets. Their egg sacs help them survive winter by ensuring the next generation can survive to hatch.

How do they impact the environment and farmers?

Spotted Lanternflies damage woody plants by taping into their bark and sucking the sap. Then they secret honeydew, a sugary substance which serves as a breeding ground for molds and fungi, which then find their way into the injuries. Over the past few years, these insects have caused millions in damage to apple orchards, grape vineyards, and maple syrup farms.

What can we do about it?

The most powerful tool for change in any aspect of life is your ballot. Call your local politicians and push for change.

But if you want to see what you can do besides voting, the biggest step is removing the invasive Tree of Heaven. If they do not find this tree, birds and other predators are able to snack on them carefree.