Spotted Lanternfly- SLF
Updated: Oct 5
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. Originating in Asia, SLF was first detected in the United States in 2014, in Pennsylvania, and has been spreading quickly ever since. The insect causes damage to woody and herbaceous trees by puncturing the leaf tissue with their beak-like mouth, 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.
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”. Spotted Lanternfly use their specially adaptive feet (tarsi) to strongly grip surfaces, allowing them to stick to various objects and travel with them. 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.
Although the favored host is Tree-of-Heaven, there are well over 100 different plant hosts that SLF enjoy feeding on. They are also known to feast on 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.
