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:
New York, New York
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lewistown-York, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Washington, D.C.
Baltimore, Maryland
Wilkes Barre-Scranton-Hazleton, Pennsylvania
Johnstown-Altoona-St College, Pennsylvania
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.
I saw a bug that looked very similar but the white with black spots went all the way to the wing tips. There wasn’t any stripes on the tips. I also didn’t see any red although the wings were closed. Does anyone know if there is a bug that looks similar or do you think it was a lantern fly?
NOW Enough is Enough!
2023-08-01
As of today I’ve killed 106 adult SLFs since they first showed up Sat July 23, in the east end of Pittsburgh. 1 tablespoon of Blue Dawn dish soap in 32 oz of water in a sturdy spray bottle & a heavy duty fly swatter. Killed hundreds of nymphs the same way.
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