Keeping Spotted Lanternflies in Check

Harmful. Annoying. Invasive. Spotted lanternflies first arrived in the U.S. in 2014 with a stone shipment sent to Pennsylvania. Today, this invasive species from Asia has been reported in 18 states, including Maryland.

When spotted lanternflies were first confirmed in Maryland in 2018, scientists worried about their effects on our trees and crops. Experts encouraged people to squish them on sight, hoping to eradicate lanternflies before they spread throughout the state. Unfortunately, this plan didn't work.

The number of spotted lanternflies in Maryland has skyrocketed and already affects local ecology. Organizations like the Maryland Department of Agriculture say that these pests aren't leaving anytime soon. Now, experts are more concerned with managing their populations instead of getting rid of them altogether. That's where you come in! By learning about these bugs, you can help keep them in check.

How to Spot Lanternflies

Managing spotted lanternflies starts with knowing what they look like. The nymphs begin as tiny black bugs with white spots before becoming larger red bugs with white spots and black markings. Finally, they transform into 1-inch-long adults with grey spotted forewings and bright red hind wings. Young lanternflies are impressive jumpers, while adults get around by climbing or flying.

Their main host is the tree of heaven, another invasive species from Asia. Much like the spotted lanternfly population, the tree of heaven is fast-growing and difficult to remove. The entire root system must be dug up, or the tree will regrow.

Pesky Pests

Swarms of lanternflies can be a nuisance to people and affect plant growth. When spotted lanternflies eat sap from plants, they leave behind a substance called honeydew made of sugar and water. This goo attracts stinging insects and promotes the growth of a fungus called sooty mold. In large amounts, sooty mold can block photosynthesis, which stunts plant growth and affects their fruit.

We've already started to see their ecological and economic effects in Maryland. Local vineyards have had smaller grape yields, and fewer vines have survived winters because of lanternflies. A spotted lanternfly study from Penn State also showed that large groups of adult lanternflies can stunt the growth of young maple trees, which are native to Maryland.

To Squish or Not to Squish?

You should definitely squish these bugs. Females lay between 30 and 50 eggs at a time, so stopping even one individual from reproducing is a win. But we'll need to do more than squish the occasional bug to keep invasive lanternflies under control. Here's what you can do to help:

• Report any local sightings to the Maryland Department of Agriculture. This data helps the department track the population and decide where to allocate resources.
• Remove sticky egg masses from trees in the winter and early spring or create circle traps around trees in the spring and summer. You can also use tools like flyswatters or vacuums to kill groups of lanternflies, but don't use sticky traps that can hurt native species, too.
• Beware of hitchhiking bugs. Lanternflies often catch rides on cars, bikes and people, so double-check your stuff on road trips.

Managing an invasive species is a group effort. Tell your friends and family about lanternflies and get out there and start squishing!

Illustration created by Abigail Rumpp © 2024.