The spotted lantern fly, a leafhopper, has emerged and is currently in the nymph stage (June-September) in central Jersey. Although the insect is not harmful to humans, it does damage to trees and some food crops, and is a general nuisance. Known host plants include Tree-of-Heaven (Alianthus altissima), Red Maple, Black Walnut, Grapes, Hops and more than 70 other species.

Native to China, India and Vietnam, the Spotted Lanternfly (Lycarma delicatula) was introduced to the Eastern United States in September 2014. Since that time, the insect has spread from Pennsylvania to New Jersey and beyond and is still on the move. Within the insects’ native range, predators keep the Spotted Lanternfly under control. In the US, however, the lack of natural predators as well as an abundance of preferred host pants have allowed populations of Spotted Lanternfly to reach unprecedented levels. This has led to significant damage to trees, a growing threat to agricultural crops and a nuisance in the landscape.

Along with the physical damage these insects cause, they secrete a sticky substance, called “honeydew”, which spreads over anything underneath the attacked tree. Surfaces covered with honeydew will subsequently be covered in a black sooty mold.

Adults and nymphs feed by sucking sap from the leaves and stems of their host plants. This feeding creates oozing wounds and leaves a foul odor. Weakened plants are open to attack from other pests and diseases.

Control Measures

Physical: (November – March) Scrape and destroy egg masses

Environmental – Remove tree-of-/heaven and other susceptible species

Chemical – Foliar cover sprays, Trunk & limb cover spray, Transtect bark spray, and/or tree injections. Consult a professional tree expert for advice.

Home Remedies

Tips to Fight the Infestation

  • Smushing the bugs is effective and the method that is least harmful to the environment. …
  • Keep a spray bottle of insecticidal soap handy to spray lanternflies on contact. …
  • Capture them in a bottle. Hold a bottle, like a plastic Gatorade bottle, in front of the bugs face. The bug will jump in!
  • Use a shop vac. If you have the lanternflies on your house, a shop vac will suck them up. …
  • Wrap your tree with sticky paper/duct tape. If you have a tree with a bad infestation of lanternflies, wrap wide sticky paper or several strips of thinner sticky paper …
  • Judiciously-used sticky paper. Using the sticky paper or inside-out duct tape in 2” or less strips minimizes harm to wildlife. …
  • Spray weeds with vinegar. If the lanternflies are on weeds you don’t want around anyway (they love wild grape), spray with vinegar.
  • Plant more milkweed! It appears that the lanternflies are attracted to Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). …
  • Bug Assault. Bug Assault is a gun that shoots table salt at close range. It’s for mostly small insects like flies but it works great on lanternflies.
  • BB guns with no BBs! To quote: just pump 4 to 5 times, get really close to them and pow, blown to smithereens!!

Reference: frenchandpickering.org/lanternflies/