Lycorma delicatula, commonly known as the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), is a new invasive insect that has spread throughout southeastern Pennsylvania since its discovery in Berks County in 2014. SLF presents a significant threat to Pennsylvania agriculture, including the grape, tree-fruit, hardwood and nursery industries, which collectively are worth nearly $18 billion to the state's economy.

Signs & Symptoms

The Spotted Lanternfly attacks fruit trees, but not the fruit itself. It uses its piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on the sap in trunks, branches, twigs and leaves. These oozing wounds will leave a greyish or black trail along the bark of the plant.

As it digests the sap, the insect excretes a substance known as honeydew that, along with sap from these weeping wounds, can attract bees and other insects. There may be a buildup of this sticky fluid on infested plants and on the ground below. The honeydew and sap also provide a medium for growth of fungi, such as sooty mold, which can cover leaf surfaces and stunt growth. Plants with heavy infestations may not survive.

What's at Risk

Potentially at stake are Pennsylvania's grape, tree-fruit, hardwood, nursery and landscape industries, which generate agricultural crops and forest products worth nearly $18 billion annually. The insect also can cause damage to high-value ornamentals in home landscapes and can affect quality of life for residents.

Where it's Found

SLF is currently found in 34 counties in Pennsylvania, all of which are under a state-imposed quarantine. The quarantine is in place to stop the movement of SLF to new areas within or out of the current quarantine zone and to slow its spread within the quarantine. The quarantine affects vehicles and other conveyances, plant, wood, stone products and outdoor household items. Counties within the quarantine zone: Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Chester, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, York, Wayne, and Westmoreland. In addition to Pennsylvania, SLF is also found in New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Connecticut, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia. Do your part to slow the spread by complying with the SLF quarantine relations.

Spotted Lanternfly Management

If you find Spotted Lanternfly, take action by using the resources below.

• Avoid Home Remedies to Control Spotted Lanternfly
• Choosing a Qualified Pest Management or Lawn Care Company
• Spotted Lanternfly IPM Management Calendar
• Spotted Lanternfly Management for Homeowners
• Spotted Lanternfly Management for Landscape Professionals
• Tree-of-Heaven Identification
• Using Traps for Spotted Lanternfly Management
• Video: Controlling Tree of Heaven: Why it Matters
• Video: How to Remove Spotted Lanternfly Eggs
• Video: Tree of Heaven: Accurate Identification

Resources

• Have you seen a Spotted Lanternfly?
• How You Can Comply with the Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Regulations
• Learning Resources (Penn State Extension)
• Penn State Extension
• Penn State Extension Spotted Lanternfly Management Resources
• Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture - Spotted Lanternfly
• Spotted Lanternfly Management Calendar
• Spotted Lanternfly Management for Homeowners
• Tree-of-Heaven (Invasive Weeds Fact Sheet)

 

Information from Penn State Extension