Spotted lanternflies are making their presence felt in Arlington

Spotted lanternflies continue to appear in Arlington and other parts of Northern Virginia — but while the insects are invasive, experts say there’s no need to panic.

“These invasive insects do not bite, sting, or otherwise harm people or pets,” Virginia Cooperative Extension agent Kirsten Conrad told ARLnow. “They feed on a wide variety of plants and are especially attracted to the invasive non-native Tree of Heaven .”

A reader recently contacted ARLnow after spotting the bugs, which typically appear at dusk and night, in Ballston and Virginia Square.

“They are [present] on N. Fairfax around the J Sol and Skanska buildings,” the tipster wrote. “People have been stomping them around J Sol.”

Spotted lanternflies, which have regularly appeared in Northern Virginia for the past two years, are considered “hitchhikers” — meaning they spread to new areas by attaching themselves to clothing, cars and other items. The Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services has mapped the creatures throughout a large swath of the state.

In Northern Virginia, Conrad said, they’re most commonly seen in Loudoun County and Prince William County due to the high presence of apple- and grape-growing operations.

Spotted lanternflies feed on more than 70 plants, but have a keen taste for “thin-barked woody plants,” she said. The tree of heaven, one of the species’ favorite foods, has “overwhelmed natural areas” in many parts of the United States, according to Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia .

Arlington County is doing its best to tamp down the local population.

“The County is managing spotted lanternfly on its own properties by eliminating its preferred host plant,” county spokesperson Jerry Solomon said.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, the most effective ways to limit population growth of the spotted lanternfly are to regularly check plants and destroy any egg masses that are found.

“Pesticide use is not recommended to control these nuisance insects,” Conrad said. “They move quickly and can easily be killed with a flyswatter. Where heavy infestations have occurred around living areas, vacuum devices have been used effectively.”

Photo 1 via Magi Kern/ Unsplash