Spotted Lanternflies Are Back in Town! Here’s What Homeowners Need to Know

Spotted Lanternflies Are Back in Town! Here’s What Homeowners Need to Know

Whack! Grab your flip-flops, a newspaper, your vacuum, or whatever else is nearby. Spotted Lanternfly season is back in full force and this year is shaping up to be one of the worst years yet, especially on Long Island, throughout the Hudson Valley and Fairfield County, Connecticut.

A deceptively beautiful insect with red wings and polka dots, Spotted Lanternflies have an insatiable appetite and are extremely destructive. While they won’t bite you or your pets, they will wreak havoc on your yard, garden and on local agriculture. And, thanks to this summer’s excessively hot weather conditions, their numbers are skyrocketing with the biggest surge set to happen in August, when it’s their mating season.

Why This Summer’s Weather Is Making It Worse

This year, Spotted Lanternflies arrived about two weeks earlier than usual due to a warm spring. The current heat wave has created ideal hatching conditions, for a more rapid reproduction. Starting as black-and-white nymphs in late May, Spotted Lanternflies are now quickly transitioning into their red (adult) nymph stage, the most destructive phase.

The Major Damage They Do – Why You Should Worry

You might be tempted to ignore Spotted Lanternflies since they don’t sting or carry diseases like other pests, but here’s what’s at stake:

●      Your backyard: Lanternflies excrete a sticky substance called “honeydew” that coats plants, patio furniture, and even cars, leading to mold and plant death.

●      Your trees and plants: They destroy more than 70 species of plants, including maple, willow, walnut, birch, grapevines, and hops.

●      New York’s wine and fruit industries: Grapes are among their favorite foods. While eastern Long Island vineyards are still holding strong, experts warn the threat is growing fast.

●      Your summer peace: From patio chairs to pool filters, these bugs are everywhere, especially in the nymph stage. Left unchecked, they grow into relentless adult swarmers.

How to Spot Them

●      Black-and-white nymphs (May–June): These small bugs are often found on tree trunks, patio furniture, sidewalks, and garden plants.

●      Red nymphs (July–early September): Bigger, more visible and becoming more destructive.

●      Adults (Late July–October): One inch long with tan wings covered in black spots. Their mating season is just around the corner in August, when they’re most visible and active.

What You Can Do To Get Rid of Them Now! 

1. Stomp. Squash. Smash!
 Lanternflies are fast, but approaching them from the front gives you the best chance at destroying them. 

2. Vacuum them up.
Your vacuum can be one of the most effective tools. But don’t empty the vacuum bag right away. Wait 48 hours to discard them to ensure they’re truly dead.

3. Remove egg masses.
 Look for gray, putty-like smears on tree trunks, fences, or outdoor furniture. Scrape them off into a sealed bag with rubbing alcohol.

4. Get Treatment, Get Rid of Spotted Lanternflies
JP McHale’s Spotted Lanternfly Treatment consists of a topical tree oil (exterior liquid spray), which is applied to the foliage (leaves) and trunk/branches of the trees. Treatments are targeted at the host pest and not pollinators or other insects.

Don’t wait until your patio is crawling with red-winged invaders. August marks the peak of Spotted Lanternfly mating season, when they’re most active, most visible, and most destructive. Taking action now is critical. The earlier the response, the better the chance you have of protecting your property and slowing the spread of this invasive pest.

Schedule your Spotted Lanternfly Treatment today. Contact us at (833) 416-7634 or email us at sales@nopests.com.