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Also known as the Lantern moth, the Spotted Lanternfly is neither a moth, related to lanterns or a fly. It is, rather, a member of the Order Hemiptera, which includes: true bugs; cicadas; grasshoppers and aphids.
While indigenous to the remote regions of China, Bangladesh and Vietnam, these beautiful but highly destructive and invasive insects have exploded in terrifying numbers across America’s eastern states, and have infested many regions since their initial sighting in Berks County back in 2014.
According to the US Department of Agriculture, in the world of farming, this insect is the human equivalent of a criminal on the loose on the top ten FBI Most Wanted List, who is both armed and extremely dangerous.
In fact the destruction they cause can seriously raise the question if old Mother Nature has a serious drinking problem.
Their main source for nourishment and to lay their eggs is the Tree of Heaven, which is native to China and was brought to the United States in the late 1700s as an ornamental street tree.
Today, ironically, this tree has become an aggressive and invasive growth as well.
When it is not available to spotted lantern flies, they turn to the sap gleaned from the stems, leaves and trunks of more than 70 species of plants and trees, many of which are found in Pennsylvania.
These include:maple; sycamore; willow; black walnut; oak and pine trees; grapevines; apples; apricots; cherries and almonds.
Why Are Lanternflies So Dangerous To The Environment?
In spring and early summer, lanternflies rest boldly in plain sight on small plants, vines, young trees and shrubs, and their ubiquitous presence is quite unsettling.
In their adult stages, they are often seen feeding on the wounded trunks and branches of trees that are dripping with sap, which emits an intense and pungent odor once infested.
They coat the sap with their excrement, which is a sticky, sweet substance known as honeydew that forms a grimy mold other insects find very attractive.
In addition to their deleterious impact on various industries, these insects disrupt the natural life cycle of the trees and plants they infest because their feeding interrupts the process of photosynthesis and retards the growth of nourishment needed for the growth and health of the trees.
Ecologically, they wreak havoc with our sacred forests and destroy natural habitats for many species of birds, mammals and reptiles.
Some Relevant Statistics
The presence of spotted lanternflies has spread throughout Pennsylvania with reports of sightings rising more than 140% over the course of the last decade.
Currently, many counties are under a state-imposed quarantine.
A recent study estimated that if these pests are not controlled, they can cost the state $324 million annually and more than 2,800 jobs.
In infested counties, residents have reported hundreds of spotted lantern flies that prevent them from enjoying the great outdoors.
They blanket entire trees, swarm noisily in the air and their excrement smothers cars, decks, lawn furniture and play equipment.
The western sector of the state, and particularly Pittsburgh, has been hit hard in the last few years, and our pest-control and pest-maintenance specialists at Pestco have their hands full in handling their elimination.
This invasive insect has been sighted in 26 Pennsylvania counties, with Allegheny and Beaver especially impacted.
Other affected areas include: Berks, Blair, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill and York counties.
Last year, according to Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Press Secretary, Shannon Powers:
“Teams of PA Dept. of Agriculture and USDA inspectors follow up on every report in newly quarantined counties and outside the quarantine, treating confirmed sightings as appropriate… State-wide, from January 1 through July 31, this organization received 41,329 reports from the public about sightings of Spotted Lantern Flies, which have accelerated from the same time period last year when the agency received 16,747 reports…Spotted Lantern Flies have jumped across several counties, and… the transportation industry is a key partner in combating this bug in Pennsylvania.”
What Do Spotted Lanternflies Look Like?
These critters are about an inch in length and as remarkably beautiful in the nymph and adult stages of their growth as they are toxic to Mother Nature’s balanced order of things.
Their multi-colored bodies make them easy to spot and identify.
Hues of gray, black, yellow and vivid scarlet and white polka dots are as exquisitely patterned as any pigments ever blended on an artist’s fine palette.
Their lantern-shaped bodies are sometimes mistaken for ticks.
5 Interesting Facts About The Spotted Lanternfly
1. They Have Long Snouts
Many lanternfly species have long, hollow nose-like structures that are either straight or upturned. This bulge is known as a ‘snout’ or ‘lantern’, which is associated with their name. These structures act as straws, which allow entry into the bark of vulnerable trees so they can extract the sap. These insects can inflate them to the size of their bodies.
2. Lantern Flies Can Change Their Color And Appearance
Masters at camouflage, many species of lantern flies are very conspicuous with their rich deep colorations. Others can easily blend in with the leaves, which helps them hang from trees and drink sap unnoticed by predators. In addition, some species, particularly the Fulgoria lanternaria, can mimic the appearance of a snake due to its tiny snout and pair of false eyes.
3. Lantern Flies Walk And Hop
These insects are poor flyers and tend to travel on foot, so to speak. They spring or hop from leaves to trees like a grasshopper via their powerful hind legs. When they walk, it is with slow motions and from side to side, like crabs.
4. Lantern Flies Have Unexpected Relatives
While they do resemble moths, lantern flies are actually plant hoppers and related to cicadas and aphids.
5. They Have No Natural Predators In The United States
While there are several wasp species in China that control their population there, here they have found safe harbor and have no natural predators. Spotted lantern flies can and do reproduce unabated, which makes their presence, damage capacity and numbers all the more terrifying.
Spotted Lanternfly Treatments For Greater Pittsburgh
While there are some actions homeowners and business owners can take to help reduce Lanternfly populations, professional measures will be needed to ultimately eliminate infections.
A potent and safe exterior spray is applied generously to the exterior of a home, directed specifically where lanternflies are most active including: walls and fences.
This spray has been proven to reduces their numbers rapidly and saves trees and shrubs for further devastation.
Our advanced new treatment stands out from all others because a home owner is assured that if it does not work within thirty days, a second treatment will be applied at no extra cost.
Our technicians at Pestco are certified and attend workshops where they learn the necessary tools and skills required to address a spotted lanternfly invasion.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is the agency to contact if these insects are spotted near a Pittsburgh residence.
Home owners are advised to kill them on sight, if possible.
The vision of just one can mean there are many, and Pestco is always there to alleviate this or any other type of pest infestation.