Spotted Lanternfly
Farm Management Resources
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The spotted lanternfly has become an increasing concern. As of today, 17 states have some degree of infestation. USDA APHIS
Download the Spotted Lanternfly Resource Guide
There are a few threats the spotted lanternfly imposes.
The spotted lanternfly damages plants in three ways:
- Sucking out the sap and weakening the plant so that its yield is reduced.
- Secreting “honeydew” which increases the occurrence of sooty mold that blocks sunlight and inhibits photosynthesis.
- Stresses plants which allows other insects and pathogens to potentially damage and kill the plant.
In order to know how to react to the spotted lanternfly, it is first important to know how to identify it. The spotted lanternfly has distinct features.
Some of these features include:
- Adults are approximately 1 inch in size.
- Greyish forewings marked with black spots and small brick-like markings near the wing tips.
- Hindwings are marked with distinct patches of red, white and black.
- Adults lay yellowing-brown egg masses that are covered with a gray, waxy coating.
- Immature stages of the insect are black with white spots, they eventually develop bright red patches as they near adulthood.
- Their preferred host is tree-of-heaven.
- Adults are present from mid-July until a hard frost in late fall. Adults start laying eggs in mid-September.
Virginia Department of Agriculture
West Virginia Department of Agriculture
When individuals encounter the spotted lanternfly there are few questions that are frequently asked. The West Virginia Department of Agriculture has put together a list of frequently asked questions. Below are a few of them.
Q: How can I reduce the number of spotted lanternfly on my property?
A: Removing tree-of-heaven from your property is vital in reducing populations.
Q: What is a quick and easy way to kill spotted lanternfly around my house?
A: Spray spotted lanternfly with a solution of 10% dish soap and 90% water.
Q: Will spotted lanternfly harm my pets?
A: No, spotted lanternfly poses no known harm to pets or humans.
Q: Will the spotted lanternfly kill my fruit trees and vegetable garden?
A: While it’s possible, it’s unlikely that spotted lanternfly will feed enough to kill your fruit trees and the majority of common vegetable crops.
https://agriculture.wv.gov/divisions/plant-industries/spotted-lanternfly/
There are state-specific resources available for individuals in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. Each state shares information on the spotted lanternfly and how to report them.
West Virginia
- West Virginia Department of Agriculture
- WVU Extension
- If you have a sighting of spotted lanternfly please report it to the WVDA bugbusters detection email at bugbusters@wvda.us . If you can, please, include a photo of the insect before trying to kill it. In the email, include as much detail about the location, date, and insect activity.
Virginia
- Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
- Virginia Tech
- Contact and Reporting
Maryland
- Maryland Department of Agriculture
- University of Maryland Extension
- Report a Spotted Lanternfly Sighting in Maryland
Information from this article was used from the WVDA, WVU Extension, VDACS, and USDA APHIS