Service Project Update: Spotted Lanternfly

 

The Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is not from around here.  It is believed to have hitched a ride to the US in 2012 as eggs on a shipment of stone from China.  The first infestation was identified in Pennsylvania in 2014.

Spotted Lanternfly was first identified in Virginia in January of 2018 at a truck depot in Winchester.  During 2018, despite a lot of attention, they spread.  By June of 2019, a quarantine was established for the City of Winchester and Frederick County. 

Spotted Lanternfly feed on the sap of over 70 species of plants, including many commercial crops such as apples, grapes and hops.  Their feeding weakens the plants.  They excrete honeydew, which is a sticky mess that supports the growth of sooty mold.  They lay their eggs on everything, including trees, lawn furniture, concrete, rocks and the sides of trucks.  The biggest fear is that some eggs will escape the quarantine and hitch a ride down I-81.

Photos from the VCE Spotted Lanternfly website

Virginia Cooperative Extension first enlisted the help of the Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners across the state in 2019.  Kathy attended the education session in Winchester and brought back supplies to monitor our area for Spotted Lanternfly. The insects seem to be attracted to the Tree of Heaven ((Ailanthus altissima, also native to China), so these trees are used as bait.  We had 7 test sites across 4 counties in 2019.  This year, we have 4 members on the lookout in Henry County/Martinsville.

Managing a test site entails setting up a sticky-tape trap.  This super-sticky tape is wrapped around the trunk of a Tree of Heaven, sticky side out and affixed with push pins. This is no easy feat.  After 2 weeks, our brave volunteers return to the test site, remove the band with all the bugs that tried to walk over it, and put up a new sticky band.  Then, they inspect the carnage on the 2-week old band, looking for Spotted Lanternfly.  Results are reported using an online application. 

Photo by Chad Rhoads: Sticky band on Ailanthus tree

So far, we have not been invaded.  We will be on the lookout again next year. For more information, visit VCE Spotted Lanternfly in Virginia.     

Photo by Joe May: Sticky band, ready for inspection

Thank you Chad, Joe, Eric and Lee for your help monitoring for SLF this year!