They’re Back! Spotted Lanternflies Strike Again, Pest Experts Offer Tips on Controlling this Invasive Species

They’re back! The invasive spotted lanternfly has officially returned, causing more havoc than ever. Experts say this is because of the warmer winter we had this year, which accelerated their development and now causing twice as many spotted lanternflies compared to a year ago. The Department of Agriculture is asking everyone to kill the lanternflies once spotted.  Although harmless to humans, they can cause extreme damage. 

Spotted Lanternfly Life Cycle:

• September- May: Spotted lanternflies will lay their eggs. This egg mass is disguised as a blotch of dried mud.
• April - October: Lanternfly nymphs will emerge from their eggs as black with bright white spots.
• July – November: Adults appear in July, approximately 1 inch long and ½ inch wide at rest, with eye-catching wings. Their forewings are grayish with black spots. At rest, their wings are folded and are a dull tan-gray color with black spots. During flight, the wings reveal a dazzling pattern of bright red, black, and white.

Spotting a Spotted Lanternfly:

Although they may appear to be beautiful insects, spotted lanternflies are a major threat to plants. Each female will lay up to 100 or more eggs in the fall, so destroying even one female can reduce the potential population to cause future harm.

What to do if you see one:

• Don’t panic! Spotted lanternflies will not sting or bite humans or animals. Although, they can be destructive to agriculture and plants. If a spotted lanternfly is found in your backyard or anywhere else, squish it immediately to prevent repopulation.
• Report the sighting to your State Department of Agriculture.
• Bring in the professionals. We now offer a specialized treatment consisting of a topical need oil (exterior liquid spray) to the foliage (leaves) and trunk/branches of the trees. Treatments are targeted at the host pest and not pollinators or other insects.

For more information on our spotted lanternfly treatment, call (833) 234-7509 or email sales@nopests.com.