Spotted Lantern Flies

What are Spotted Lantern Flies

An invasive species named the Tree of Heaven functions as the most preferred host of the Spotted Lantern Fly (SLF).
While they can feed on 70+ kinds of trees and woody vines, they prefer to feed on ToH.
This species of tree is particularly fast-growing.
They can thrive very well in poor conditions like shallow soil, disturbed sites, even pollution.
SLF’s use their long needle-like mouths to suck sap from the phloem (inner bark

They are found in at least 17 eastern states and will continue to spread.
Adult females produce many more eggs when they feed on the sap from a TOH tree. This makes the presence of ToH trees more threatening as they share a symbiotic relationship with the invasive SLF.
SLF populations reach their highest densities in heavily wooded areas such as residential areas, urban areas, orchards, vineyards, and especially where ToH is present.
As SLF’s suck sap, they excrete honeydew. This honeydew coats vegetation, sidewalks, driveways, and any surrounding objects.
Ants and wasps are then attracted to the honeydew and these insects can become a nuisance as well.
Honeydew is capable of growing black sooty mold, which poses a health issue for people.

Some methods of dealing with high-density SLF populations are using insecticides, tree banding, setting traps below ToH trees, and scraping off egg masses (found on the bark of trees).
Egg masses are present from fall through winter to early spring.
These methods help to significantly reduce the SLF population.

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