HUDSON VALLEY – The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), an invasive insect that causes substantial damage to crops and trees has arrived in the Hudson Valley. The easily identifiable insect from Asia targets ailanthus trees, in particular, and attacks a wide variety of crops including grapes, hops, apples, and forest products.
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has confirmed that the SLF has been found in multiple counties in New York, including Orange, Dutchess, Rockland, Ulster, and Westchester. This insect has also been detected in Pennsylvania (in 2014), New Jersey, Delaware, and Virginia.
The insect is easy to identify with distinct markings. It will change hosts as it goes through its developmental stages. Nymphs feed on a wide range of plant species (willow, maple, poplar, sycamore as well as fruit trees like plum, cherry, and peach) while adults prefer to feed and lay eggs on Tree of Heaven plants.
Nymphs are black with white spots and turn red before transitioning into adults. The black nymphs can be seen as early as April and until July. Red nymphs can be seen from July until September.
Adults begin to appear in July and are approximately 1 inch long and ½ inch wide at rest, with eye-catching wings. Their forewings are grayish with black spots. The lower portions of their hindwings are red with black spots and the upper portions are dark with a white stripe.
In the fall, adults lay 1-inch-long egg masses on nearly anything from tree trunks and rocks to vehicles and firewood. They are smooth and brownish-gray with a shiny, waxy coating when first laid.
If left unchecked, the SLF can potentially wreak havoc on New York’s grape, orchard and logging industries. It causes harm by sucking sap from plant stems and leaves. This can reduce photosynthesis, weaken the plant and eventually contribute to the plant’s death.
Invasive species can be transported to new locations in various ways. While the insect can walk, jump, or fly short distances, its long-distance spread is facilitated by people who move infested material or items containing egg masses. Spotted Lanternflies are easiest to spot at dusk or at night as they migrate up and down the trunk of the plant. If you find an insect that you suspect is the Spotted Lanternfly, please take a specimen or a photo and follow the reporting instructions here.
One way to prevent the spread of this insect within the state is to limit the spread of Tree of Heaven which is also an invasive species. Young seedlings may be pulled or dug up, taking care to remove all roots and fragments, preferably when the soil is moist.
The NEW York State Department of Agriculture is asking anyone that has sighted the Spotted Lanternfly to report the sighting to them. The Spotted Lanternfly fact sheet and instructions for reporting the sighting can be found here.
Additional information regarding the SLF can be found on the New York State DEC web page dedicated to the insect.
