Spotted Lanternfly spotted in Lynchburg

Submitted by Jessica Driver

Can you spot all the Spotted Lanternfly  nymphs in just one small tree of heaven? These are third instar nymphs about to become 4th stage. They are black with white spots that then change to red, white and black before becoming an adult. While feeding on the sap of plants, they produce tons of honeydew (sugary water substance excreted by plant-hoppers) which you’ll see at the end of the video as a shiny substance covering the leaves below. This leaves a sticky mess in which sooty mold will start to grow later and cause everything to be coated in a black film.  Keep a lookout for these invasive insects as they continue to spread throughout Virginia and NC!!Text from Jessica

Photo by Jessica Driver - Spotted Lanternfly Nymphs