This year, the spotted lanternfly seems to have fully established itself in densely populated South Jersey counties like Camden, Gloucester, and Burlington. Verderane tells CBS Philadelphia, stopping the infestation will require “vigilance, reporting and good ole’ squashing.”, Theresa Machemer is a freelance writer based in Washington DC. Many affected counties have imposed quarantines to reduce the spotted lanternfly’s spread. Cookie Policy They feed on about 70 species of plants and pose a risk to native wildlife and agriculture because of a sugary substance they leave behind. “We are still in the expansion and growth phase for this invasive bug and management needs to be implemented immediately,” says Rutgers entomologist Anne Nielsen to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Bugs:Spotted lanternfly background from Cornell D&C 2019: Voracious hordes of destructive insects on the horizon: Here's what it means to NY Contact watchdog reporter Steve Orr at … To remove the tree, all of the roots must be removed because even a small piece of root left behind can grow into a new tree. Give a Gift. Nielson adds that she’s getting reports of more of the insects this year than last year, especially in central and southern New Jersey. In response, the NJ Department of Agriculture has issued an eight-county quarantine. Keep up-to-date on: © 2020 Smithsonian Magazine. The Department appreciates residents reporting the addresses of Spotted Lanternfly sightings and assisting us in keeping this pest from spreading. If residents spy a spotted lanternfly, they can report it to the Department of Agriculture in New Jersey, according to the statement. If you live in one of these quarantine areas it is important to follow the compliance checklist. The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a planthopper that is indigenous to parts of Southern China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, and has spread invasively to Japan, South Korea, and the United States.Although it has two pairs of wings, it jumps more than it flies. The Department appreciates residents reporting the addresses of Spotted Lanternfly sightings and … They were also very quick to respond! Get the best of Smithsonian magazine by email. At Viking Pest, we eliminate spotted lanternfly eggs (in New Jersey Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland) from May to October. Spotted Lanternfly locations in unquarantined counties in New Jersey can be reported to the Department by emailing slf-plantindustry@ag.nj.gov or by calling 609-406-6943. Residents outside of the quarantine counties can report the exact address of sightings of the spotted lanternfly by emailing Slf-plantindustry@ag.nj.gov or by calling 609-406-6943. I called and they where there. It lays egg masses of 30-50 eggs wherever it chooses, especially on flat surfaces. At the same time, they excrete a sugary substance called honeydew that stays behind on the plant when they fly away. In the U.S., spotted lanternfly is an invasive species that could be very devastating to some New Jersey crops and hardwood trees. We tell people the best thing you can do is kill them.”. The insect seems to prefer the tree of heaven, another invasive species from Asia. This list may change or expand based on new findings of the Spotted Lanternfly. Adults can be found from July to December. Camden County in New Jersey has also started putting sticky tape around trees, about four feet up the trunk, to catch spotted lanternflies when they crawl up the trunks, per the Philadelphia Inquirer. Privacy Statement As a sap sucking insect, SLF feeds by inserting their mouthparts into plant tissues. Spotted Lanternfly in PA, Spotted Lanternfly in NJ, and so much more. Website: tkmach.com, Continue Spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma deliculata, is an invasive plant hopper native to Asia. SLF are known to feed on over 70 different plant species including many crops and hardwood trees. The flying insects are native to China, India and Vietnam, but since 2014 have been found in large numbers in New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma deliculata, is an invasive plant hopper native to Asia. The hind wings have contrasting patches of red and black with a white band. They are very knowledgeable. New Jersey residents describe their insect-fighting strategies to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Frank Kummer: they’re fighting back with a salt gun, a vacuum cleaner outdoors, and an ongoing game of whack-a-mole on the patio. Karen - *Results may vary from person to person. Spotted Lanternfly adult. By January 2018, the Pennsylvania quarantine included portions of 13 counties in the southeastern part of the state (PA DoA 2017). All rights reserved. The tree is hard to control because of its vast root systems. There are several counties under quarantine. Spotted Lanternfly locations in unquarantined counties in New Jersey can be reported to the Department by emailing slf-plantindustry@ag.nj.gov or by calling 609-406-6943. No more lantern flies at our house!" Adult spotted lanternflies are about one inch long and have black bodies and colorful wings that are half-red and half-grey with black spots. or Eric M. - *Results may vary from person to person. “I would say that there are more now due to a lack of control,” entomologist Lauren Bonus, who works with the Camden County Mosquito Commission, tells the Philadelphia Inquirer. New Jersey populations were first detected in 2018 and are currently primarily distributed along the state's border with Pennsylvania. Spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, an invasive planthopper native to China, India and Vietnam, is thought to have arrived as egg masses on a stone shipment in 2012.The first infestation was found in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014 in a wooded area of Ailanthus altissima, or Tree of Heaven. The insects feed by piercing the plant with their mouth and then sucking out the sap. Jeffrey Blew - *Results may vary from person to person. Terms of Use 17th Annual Photo Contest Finalists Announced. “If you have lantern flies call these guys! But the tree of heaven has been around much longer than the spotted lanternfly—it was first brought to Philadelphia in 1784. Spotted Lanternfly Killers specialize in helping these counties under quarantine. The legs and head are black; the abdomen is yellow with broad black bands. This is the only stage of a spotted lanternfly’s life cycle that survives the winter. The insects go through a few life stages before reaching their inch-long adult form, detailed by PennState Extension. In addition to coronavirus restrictions, New Jersey authorities have placed eight counties under additional quarantine because of an invasive insect -- the spotted lanternfly. "We had a wonderful experience with this company. The newest pest to invade our area, the Spotted Lantern Fly, hopped a ride from China and other points in So utheast Asia. Photo: Tim Weigle, NYSIPM. The Spotted Lanternfly adult is approximately 1 inch long and a half-inch wide at rest. Every effort is made to keep this map up-to-date. Why Was Benjamin Franklin’s Basement Filled With Skeletons? The tree is hard to control because of its vast root systems. !” Jeffrey Blew - *Results may vary from person to person. Spotted lanternfly eggs can be laid on almost any surface. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture the following counties are currently under quarantine: Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, and Philadelphia. SLF are known to feed on over 70 different plant species including many crops and hardwood trees. They know what they are talking about, no hidden fees or bs. California Do Not Sell My Info All other life stages of this insect, from nymphs to adults can fly, hop, or drop right into or onto vehicles – meaning that vehicles and equipment can easily and quickly help it spread. “They are an invasive insect without a predator. Medicinal Plant May Have Evolved Camouflage to Evade Humans, The Ten Best STEM Toys to Give as Gifts in 2020, Melting Ice in Norway Reveals Ancient Arrows. Egg clusters can be scraped off of tree trunks, double-bagged and thrown away. Her work has also appeared in National Geographic and SciShow. That means that residents need to check their vehicles for spotted lanternflies before they travel—the insect is an “excellent hitchhiker and has been known to ride on any kind of transportation,” according to a statement by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.