Where Are the Lantern Flies?
WouterThe spotted lanternfly feeds primarily on the tree of heaven, but it will also feed on a variety of other plants. Its eggs are laid on the trunk, branches, or limbs of medium to large trees, and the nymphs will hatch and seek new hosts in the spring. The larvae are also found on several types of crops.
Despite their reputation for being harmless to humans, lanternflies can cause significant damage to your plants. Their sticky waste product, honeydew, attracts sooty molds and inhibits plant photosynthesis. According to a study, lanternflies can cause up to $324 million in economic damage in the state of Pennsylvania alone. Trees like walnut, oak, maple, apple, and cherry trees are among the crops they will damage if left unchecked. Unfortunately, these insects have no natural predators in the United States.
The spotted lanternfly feeds on more than seventy species of plants, and lays its eggs on almost anything that can grow. The pest causes significant damage by sucking sap from the host plant and secreting large amounts of honeydew, which causes black sooty mold and attracts other pests.
In an effort to combat the problem, state officials have organized anti-lanternfly militias in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Activists and summer campers take part in lanternfly hunts. New York State Senator Chuck Schumer has called for more federal funding to help fight lanternflies.
