I have found a few Spotted Lantern Flies in my gardens. Both my backyard garden and my community garden plot. The nymphs and adults are beautiful insects but so very destructive to the native trees and ecosystems.
Invasion
The Spotted Lanternfly is indigenous to parts of China. It’s spread to Japan, South Korea, and now the United States. It’s hostplants include grapes, stone fruits like peaches, and Malus (apple) species.
A friend of mine had to cut down her grape vines it was so badly attacked by the insect. I want to grow grapes will just have to wait until the infestation is over. I hope it will happen and soon.
Identifying the Spotted Lanternfly
The Spotted Lanternfly looks different at every stage of its development. The insect itself has spots on its body at every stage except maybe as an egg.
Make a Spotted Lantern Fly Trap
The Spotted Lantern Fly trap in this video is cheap and easy to make. It is an alternative to sticky traps. Sticky traps not only catch the Spotted Lantern Fly but birds, bats, and beneficial insects, too.
This trap protects those beneficial animals while catching our intended victim.
I have a shadbush tree in my back garden. I wonder if I can adapt this trap to work with the three thin trunks of my tree?
Well, I share this in case you are looking for a way to trap and destroy this destructive invader.
Watch this video for a cheap but hopefully effective trap you can make to trap and destroy this spreading pest.
More Information on the Spotted Lantern Fly
See also Getting Rid of the Lanternfly (with videos)
For more Spotted Lantern Fly info https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly
Spotted Lantern Fly Lore: Penn State Experts Clear Up Falsehoods About Pests at psu.edu/news
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They are everywhere! Within 15 minutes I caught at least 30!
Hi, Marina – I’ve seen a few juveniles in my garden this past week. Too bad there isn’t a reward for catching them. Say $1 per insect? In their native China, they like fruit trees and roses.
Thanks for this info, Donna. I am going to share with my sister who lives in Ambler.
Luckily, we haven’t seen these in Pacific NW. -Jane
Hi, Jane – I doubt we can contain them before they head your way. They move and fly, fast. I find insecticidal soap slows them down and kills them. If I can spray them before they leap away. 🙂