The Spotted Lanternfly arrived in Pennsylvania in 2014 from Asia. The spread of this invasive species has been prominent over the past few years. Despite quarantine efforts in Pennsylvania the Spotted Lanternfly has invaded several counties and caused massive amounts of damage.
The Spotted Lanternfly targets a host tree for nourishment and survival during all life stages. The SLF feeds on a large range of fruit, woody, and ornamental trees. The insect feeds on the sap of tree trunks, branches, and leaves but not the fruit itself. When the Spotted Lanternfly digests the sap it excretes honeydew. This sticky fluid attracts other insects who also feed on the honeydew and sap. When the fluid is excreted it also promotes mold growth with many trees unable to survive.
The honeydew mentioned above can also cover services of your property such as yards, porches, or stairs. Surfaces coated with this substance can be a safety hazard on your property.
Objects such as cars, farm equipment, and outdoor furniture can harbor or even spread the Spotted Lanternfly to new locations. Female Spotted Lanternflies lay brown, seed-like eggs in early fall on trees, vehicles, and other smooth surfaces. The Spotted Lanternfly has been known to lay 2 egg masses with each one harvesting 30-50 eggs.The females lay the eggs in a row and cover them with a white waxy secretion.
Be sure to take precautions so your property in not spreading the Spotted Lanternfly.
The Spotted Lanternfly feeds on over 65 plants, including vineyards, fruit orchards, and various agriculture crops. Pennsylvania is the 5th largest producer of grapes, and the 4th largest produce of apples and peaches in the United States. The Spotted Lanternfly could not only threaten production of local crops but also threaten wildlife populations. The most important thing you can do is to stay informed about the Spotted Lanternfly.
You can find more information on the United States Department of Agriculture and the PA Department of Agriculture.
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