Spotted lanternfly (SLF) can damage plants & keep you inside; please report sightings

 

Please be on the lookout for an invasive insect called the spotted lanternfly (SLF).

Not only can it damage many kinds of plants, it can secrete so much messy “honeydew” that people can’t go outside without getting honeydew on their hair and clothes, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

The SLF was first found in Pennsylvania in 2014. A single, dead SLF adult was found in New York this past autumn.

The SLF  is an invasive pest from Asia that feeds on more than 70 plant species including tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), maples, apple trees, grapevine and hops.

SLF feedings can stress plants, making them vulnerable to disease and attacks from other insects. SLF also excretes large amounts of sticky honeydew, which attracts sooty molds that interfere with plant photosynthesis, negatively affecting the growth and fruit yield of plants.

Although native insects also secrete honeydew, the size of the SLF and the size of the populations of this pest result in large accumulations of honeydew. The sticky mess and the swarms of insects it attracts can significantly hinder outdoor activities. In Pennsylvania, where SLF populations are the densest, people can’t go outside without getting honeydew on their hair, clothes and other belongings.

How you can help with spotted lanternfly

If you see what you think are signs of the SLF, please take photographs and note the location where you found the insect, egg masses, and/or infestation signs. Email the information to spottedlanternfly@dec.ny.gov.

SLF nymphs, or young insects, are black with white spots and turn red before transitioning into adults.

Adults, which resemble moths, begin to appear in July and are approximately one-inch long and half an inch wide at rest, with eye-catching wings.

Signs of an SLF infestation include:

• Sap oozing or weeping from tiny open wounds on tree trunks, which appear wet and 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.

See more images on the DEC’s spotted lanternfly webpage.

Since it is less expensive and easier to deal with a pest before it becomes widespread, the goal is to find the SLF early or prevent individual SLF’s from entering New York altogether. Extensive trapping surveys will be conducted in high-risk areas throughout the state. There will also be inspections of nursery stock, stone shipments and commercial transports from Pennsylvania.

The New York State DEC is working with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (DAM), the New York State Department of Parks and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“This pest has the potential to severely impact our forests, as well as our state’s agricultural and tourism industries,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “New Yorkers are our eyes on the ground, and engaging the public’s participation to support our efforts is a crucial step in preventing the spotted lanternfly from establishing itself in our state.”

Another way you can help is to take steps so you don’t spread this invasive pest. While the insect can jump and fly short distances, these pests spread primarily through human activity. SLF lay their eggs on surfaces including vehicles, stone, rusty metal, outdoor furniture and firewood. When these items are moved, the insects can hitch rides to new areas and therefore be easily transported into New York.

Inspect outdoor items such as vehicles and firewood for egg masses. If visiting Pennsylvania or other states with SLF, check equipment and gear before leaving and scrape off any egg masses.