Permit holders are trained in spotted lanternfly identification and protocols for vehicle and commodity inspections. Quarantines aiming to reduce the spread of spotted lanternfly mandate that businesses operating within the quarantine zone obtain a spotted lanternfly permit. Are there any effective methods for controlling the spread of spotted lanternfly? In addition, nymphs and adults, though more easily spotted, can hitchhike on landscape plants or other items being moved around. The inconspicuous egg masses are laid on all types of materials, many of which are moved around, such as vehicles, outdoor furniture and firewood.Īccidental movement of an egg mass is suspected to be the pathway by which spotted lanternfly was originally introduced to the United States, so it is no surprise that it continues to spread this way. The greater issue is the accidental transportation of this insect by humans. It can spread on its own, but is not a strong flier. Spotted lanternfly is spreading very quickly. How quickly does the species increase its range and what contributes to its spread? Everyone will know and loathe this insect. They aggregate in large numbers and have been known to swarm restaurant doors, enter local businesses, fly up people’s shirts, and amass on outdoor furniture, toys and trees. Spotted lanternfly will also be a huge public nuisance. Honeydew is a sweet and sticky excrement of many plant-sucking insects that is messy, allows for the growth of unattractive sooty mold, and attracts stinging insects. While they usually do not kill their hosts, they can weaken it through extended feeding and leave behind copious amounts of honeydew. It attacks more than 70 species of plants, including many ornamentally-planted species like rose, maple, and river birch. Spotted lanternfly is also going to be a significant landscape pest. Not only do they greatly reduce yield, but remaining grapes have lower sugar content and overall plant health suffers. It is an agricultural pest, most notably on grapevines. The impacts of spotted lanternfly will be substantial. What environmental and economic impacts could the spotted lanternfly have on North Carolina? That, coupled with the fact that there is a population of spotted lanternfly less than 20 miles from our state line, means it is just a matter of time. This insect has shown time and time again that it’s capable of spreading quickly both on its own and through accidental transport by humans. Do you think the spotted lanternfly will appear in North Carolina anytime soon? We reached out to Kelly Oten, assistant professor and extension specialist in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, to tell us more about how the spotted lanternfly could impact North Carolina and how we can help to prevent its spread. A population was recently found in Hillsville, Virginia, 20 miles from the Virginia-North Carolina border. The insect was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, and has since spread to surrounding states. It poses significant threats to agriculture and tourism, and has been known to attack over 70 woody plant species. “They run out of food sources.” Intrepid exterminators can purchase the supplies at their local hardware stores, with a full video trap tutorial available on NYC H2O’s YouTube channel.ĭespite pleas from the NYC Parks Department and State Department of Agriculture for New Yorkers to squish the spotted lanternfly on sight, the invasive species - a danger to walnut, grapes, hops, apples, blueberries and stone fruit plants - seem only to have multiplied over the summer.The spotted lanternfly is a nonnative, invasive planthopper originally found in China, Taiwan and Vietnam. “They get stuck and they die,” said Matt Malina of NYC H2O. The organization hosted an event over the weekend to instruct and assist locals in making and installing traps around town.įashioned from a soccer cone and a small half-domed cone, mesh wiring, a ruler, staples and a plastic ziplock, the trap is meant to ensnare unsuspecting climbing lanternflies into a dead-end street. As the invasive insects increase their infestation, local organizations and leaders have devised a new, somewhat MacGyver-like strategy for exterminating the bugs without squishing them.Įnvironmental educational nonprofit NYC H2O and City Council Member Gale Brewer appeared on NY1 Wednesday morning to show New Yorkers how to fashion their own makeshift tree traps that contain the spotted lanternfly until it runs out of food and dies. September may be upon us, but based on the many sightings around town it’s still the summer of the spotted lanternfly. W42ST: How to Kill Spotted Lanternflies Without Squishing Them - and Soccer Cones are the Key
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