Where Are All the Spotted Lanternflies?

A staple of late summer in Pennsylvania, the invasive spotted lanternfly has been conspicuously absent this year

Spotted LanternflyPhoto byMagi KernonUnsplash

In mid to late summer, south-central Pennsylvania is usually flooded with spotted lanternflies, the invasive pest that made its way overseas from China and has settled in our area in 2014.

The Department of Entomology at Penn State University has been researching lanternflies ever since they arrived in Pennsylvania. One researcher said that spotted lanternfly populations are incredibly patchy, and research is being done to determine why some areas see so many invasive insects, and others don't.

One reason for differences in populations could be food sources. Spotted lanternflies eat a lot throughout their life cycle. It would make sense that the trees and plants could be depleted in areas where they have been doing heavy feeding, and the lanternflies have moved on to greener pastures.

Some people have theorized that the reduction in lanternfly populations could be attributed to the wildfires in Canada. However, this is probably unlikely. Areas like Pittsburgh and New York also experienced the smoke, and those cities are seeing just as many spotted lanternflies as in previous years.

It is believed that this summer, three metro areas in Ohio are most likely to experience a large influx of lanternflies. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, these pests can spread easily by moving infested materials containing egg masses.

Those living in Ohio need to be extra careful about keeping these bugs contained, especially considering the fact that their neighboring state, Pennsylvania, is where the lanternflies were first discovered.

The Cleveland-Akron-Canton metro area ranked 11th on a list of U.S. cities most likely to be impacted by spotted lanternflies, according to TruGreen, a national lawn care company.

Youngstown, Ohio, ranked 18th on TruGreen’s list of top 20 markets likely to be impacted by the newly invasive species. Columbus, Ohio, ranked 20th.

New York City ranked first on the list of U.S. cities most likely to be impacted by spotted lanternflies. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, ranked second ahead of two other Pennsylvania areas — Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lewiston-York and Philadelphia.

“Spotted lanternflies, an invasive species native to Asia found primarily along the Eastern Seaboard and continuing to spread throughout the country, can pose a threat to natural ecosystems,” said Roger May, PhD, director of technical operations at TruGreen. “Their feeding habits can cause damage to trees and shrubs, so it’s important for residents in the identified areas to stay vigilant when adult spotted lanternflies are most active from July through December and take appropriate measures to control the spread of these pests before the egg-laying stage, which occurs September through November.”

To best prevent spotted lanternflies, USDA suggests inspecting trees and plants at dusk for signs of the pest, including egg masses, any buildup of sticky fluid on plants and/or on the ground beneath plants, plants that ooze and have a fermented odor, or plants with a sooty mold.

“By working together, we can combat the spread of spotted lanternflies and protect the health and beauty of our outdoor living spaces,” May said.

The top 20 U.S. metro areas most likely to be impacted by spotted lanternflies, according to TruGreen, are as follows:

1. New York, New York
2. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
3. Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lewistown-York, Pennsylvania
4. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
5. Washington, D.C.
6. Baltimore, Maryland
7. Wilkes Barre-Scranton-Hazleton, Pennsylvania
8. Johnstown-Altoona-St College, Pennsylvania
9. Boston-Manchester, Massachusetts

10. Hartford-New Haven, Connecticut

11. Cleveland, Ohio

12. Roanoke-Lynchburg, Virginia

13. Charlotte, North Carolina

14. Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson, North Carolina/South Carolina

15. Buffalo, New York

16. Indianapolis, Indianapolis

17. Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville, North Carolina

18. Youngstown, Ohio

19. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, New York

20. Columbus, Ohio

If you spot lanternflies on your property, experts say it's important to squash them. If you find eggs on your trees, scrape them off. We all need to work together to mitigate the spotted lanternfly crisis.