Spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, is an invasive planthopper that was first detected in North America in 2014 in southeastern Pennsylvania. It has now spread to other eastern U.S. states. It is native to parts of Asia. SLF feeds voraciously on many economically important crops like grapevines, hops, ornamental nursery plants, and several tree species. Heavy SLF feeding has contributed to the death of grapevines, the invasive tree Ailanthus altissima (tree-of-heaven, or TOH), and black walnut saplings. While SLF feeding can stress plants and cause localized branch damage, it is not known to directly kill other plants. SLF feeding is considered a plant stressor and may contribute to the long-term weakening of established plants and trees. It is currently considered to be primarily a nuisance pest in residential landscapes.
Spotted Lanternfly Infestation
The Conservancy began taking action in 2021 to combat the spotted lanternfly. Three locations were reported to us where one of SLF’s favored trees, the invasive tree of heaven, were heavily infested. We cut down all but a few of the tree of heaven in the infested area, leaving a few heavily infested trees as “trap trees” to attract and trap the SLF. We experimented with two different types of traps and an insecticide called Safari that was applied directly to the bark of the trap trees. Safari targets SLF by delivering the insecticide through the tree sap and does not affect other insects or animals. We found it effective in killing hundreds of SLF adults before they had a chance to lay eggs. The traps that we tried were not so effective. We will monitor the effectiveness of our efforts last year in determining our course of action in 2022.
What can you do to help?
If you discover trees in the Reservation that are heavily infested with SLF (i.e., with clusters of 20 or more insects) please email us at slf@somocon.org and indicate the precise location where you see the infested tree, including GPS coordinates if possible. Please do not use this email to report anything other than an infested tree in the Reservation.
Whether in the Reservation our around your home certainly squish any spotted lanternflies you see. And keep your eyes open for any egg masses which may be on a tree or common outdoor items, as depicted in this guide. To learn more, visit the resources at the bottom of this page.
Resources
NJ Department of Agriculture Pests and Diseases
NJ Department of Agriculture SLF Resource Page
Penn State University SLF Resource Guide
NJ Dept. of Agriculture SLF Report Form (the SMC does not monitor this form)
