Lycorma delicatula

Description

Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive pest from Asia, was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014. This plant hopper prefers Tree Of Heaven but will feed, mate, and lay eggs on any smooth tree, rock, or otherwise vertical surface.

Symptoms & Diagnosis

Spotted Lanternfly are indescriminate feeders and will feed on most landscape plants. The larvae suck plant fluids from leaves causing small stippling and discoloration. Adults and egg masses are most readily seen late summer through early spring. Each egg mass includes approximately 60 Lantern Fly larvae.

Treatment

Treatment options include contact insecticides for adult Lanternfly and physical removal for egg masses. In late fall through winter, egg masses can be scraped from trees, walls, and cars with an ice scraper or other piece of flat hard plastic. Systemic insecticides can be applied to trees with egg masses present to control larval feeding.

Management

Removing a preferred species, the Ailanthus (Tree of Heaven) from your property is the first management step. Destroying egg masses will remove 60 potential pests from property. Because this pest can glide from tree to tree, contact insecticides are necessary to control adult populations. Spotted Lanternfly are noxious pests due to their great numbers.

Affected Species

• All landscape trees
• Fruit trees