Spotted Lanternfly- SLF

The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), lycorma delicatula, has rapidly been making its way toward the Berkshires. Parts of Connecticut and Dutchess County, NY have also seen increased sightings. We can expect the numbers to surge in the coming years. SLF was first detected in 2014 in Pennsylvania and has been spreading quickly ever since. The insect causes damage to woody and herbaceous trees by sucking the sap produced by the tree and excreting a sticky residue, “honeydew”. This process invites disease, such as sooty mold, and other pathogens that will stress and potentially kill the host plant.

Spotted Lanternfly on egg mass

The state of MA recommends being on the lookout for lanternflies and their egg masses, especially while traveling. They advise checking vehicles and clothing to reduce unintentional lanternfly transport, as they are known to “hitchhike”. The females like to lay their eggs in places that are safe from predators, usually near a food source. Fall, especially October, is the season when SLF begin laying eggs, which resemble a 1.5” gray or white smear. The eggs overwinter and hatch into nymphs once temperatures warm up.

Spotted Lanternfly feeding in cluster

Although the favored host is Tree-of-Heaven, there are over 100 different plant hosts that SLF enjoy feeding on. They are also known to enjoy red maple, silver maple, and willows. This invasive insect has the potential to cause a lot of damage to forests, agriculture, and intentional plantings alike. Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York are all encouraging their residents to destroy egg masses and to kill the spotted lanternfly immediately when sighted.

Drought Stress

The northeast has had much less rainfall, in both amount and frequency, during the growing season in recent years. The resulting drought we are currently experiencing has a damaging impact on trees and other vegetation. While some smaller plants, like grass, show signs and symptoms right away, trees usually take longer, often taking a couple years to show stress.

In larger plants, like trees or shrubs, the fragile hairs on feeder roots that are closest to the surface in the soil are largely responsible for water uptake. They are also among the first affected by dry soil conditions. When this happens and root hairs die, the plant’s ability to absorb water is diminished. Water is a major component of the cells that make up a plant’s composition. It also helps transport and dissolve minerals the plant needs to form enzymes that help it grow and stay healthy. A lack of water directly affects a tree’s immune system and disease-fighting ability.

One of the main ways water is transported through a plant is through evaporation from the plant leaves, also known as transpiration. The water then cycles through the plant, down to the roots and back up. Any long-term disruption in the pattern of absorption will stress the plant out, eventually causing browning and leaf wilt. Plants also take in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis through the leaves, so any disturbance can result in less bud and leaf development. It can also cause a tree to shed leaves in a stress response.

Newly transplanted plants, particularly trees and shrubs, are most directly affected by a drought. They have already lost a portion of their roots for water absorption in the digging and transplanting process.

Recovery can sometimes take years for trees. All aspects of the tree’s growth are affected by water loss so repairing them can take a long time. Focusing on tree health, including infrequent deep watering, disease and insect control, and regular feeding, can greatly help a tree’s chance of staying healthy through a drought.

Ants Are Out!

The ants are marching one by one, by two, by four, ten, twenty… the warm and wet conditions are the perfect recipe for an ant infestation!

The heat and humidity create an ideal environment for colony growth and increased ant activity. Ant operations usually begin to appear on lawns and other surfaces in mid-May to early June. Ants prefer dry, well-drained soil, which makes excavating easier. Their tunneling can break and damage grass roots and increase the desiccation of the soil, thinning lawns while leaving dead patches and dirt mounds. Be on the lookout for ant signs- early intervention will result in better control. Call or email if you are interested in ant management!

Lawn damaged by ant colony