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.  As of the end of 2022, Spotted Lanternfly has infested many more counties in Virginia and spread to other states as well. 

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.  Our biggest fear is that some eggs will escape the quarantine and hitch a ride down I-81. This appears to be the situation. 

Distribution of Spotted Lanternfly as if Dec 2022

 

Virginia Cooperative Extension first enlisted the help of the Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners to monitor for Spotted Lanternfly across the state in 2019.  The insects are attracted to the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima, also native to China), so these trees are used as bait.  It is now believed that chemical in the sap of the Tree of Heaven accumulate in the insect, making it taste unpleasant to normal insect predators.  Spotted Lanternflies without access to Tree of Heaven are being consumed by our native insectivores!  In 2019, our chapter had 7 test sites across 4 counties. In 2022 we were down to 4.  Last year, only two chapter members were monitoring for the Spotted Lanternfly. With Spotted Lanternfly now as close as Roanoke County, we need to increase our participation this year.

Managing a test site entails setting up a trap on a Tree of Heaven and checking it once a week.  Sites close to trucking routes and truck stops are preferred. Results are reported using a cell-phone application.  There are instructional videos online.

Anyone in our chapter who is interested in monitoring for Spotted Lanternfly should contact Dottie or Kathy. 

Read more about Spotted Lanternfly in Virginia on the VCE site.