SPOTTING SPOTTED LANTERNFLIES
SPOTTING SPOTTED LANTERNFLIES
Spotted lanternflies actually aren ’ t new to the United States , or even to Allegheny County . They are an invasive species from Asia and were first found in Pennsylvania in 2014 . Multiple counties have been quarantined for them , and in 2023 alone six additional counties were added to the quarantine list , putting Pennsylvania up to 51 counties in quarantine for spotted lanternfly infestation . Please see the below frequently asked questions from our Borough residents to learn more about spotted lanternflies and what you can do about them .
Question : Why were these spotted lanternflies everywhere last year ?
Answer : No one knows why they were quite so prevalent , but common speculation is that since we ’ ve had a few mild winters more spotted lanternfly eggs have managed to survive ( and the eggs can survive quite cold temperatures during our normal winters ). As a result , they emerged en masse last year , but while they gather on cars and buildings in huge clusters they ’ re usually just passing through , and they slow down and die off with cold weather .
Question : What does the State mean by saying we ’ re in a “ quarantine zone ”?
Answer : Spotted lanternflies are ungainly fliers and can ’ t fly very far , but they are well known for “ hitchhiking ” on people ’ s clothing , on passing vehicles , and in moving materials and items . As part of the State ’ s quarantine order , many items are restricted form crossing county lines to avoid bringing spotted lanternflies into an uninfested area and giving them a new space to propagate . Many people may have become experts at seeing spotted lanternflies over the summer because of how prevalent they have been , but eggs , instars ( nymphs ), and adults all have the uncanny ability to hide or be carried in wood , stone , construction material , plant parts , and outdoor household items such as lawnmowers and firepits , among many other things . They can even be carried on your car as you drive , as they can cling on to a vehicle traveling at highway speeds without falling off ! Question : What makes spotted lanternflies so bad ? Answer : As unpleasant as it may be to be hit in the face by a rogue lanternfly when it decides to shoot off across the sidewalk or over your porch , spotted lanternflies don ’ t bite or sting . They are not poisonous , although animals like dogs or cats can get an upset stomach if they eat too many of them . While they do affect quality of life for anyone who wants to sit outside during the spring and summer , the main problem is the damage they can do to plants and trees . Just because you see the instars hopping around in your garden doesn ’ t mean that all of your plants are immediately doomed , of course , but spotted lanternflies feeding on plants and trees can cause them to die back and become less healthy .
Spotted lanternflies like sweet-smelling plants such as maple trees , apple trees , and other fruit trees . The Penn State Extension website on spotted lanternflies adds that while they don ’ t seem to be fussy about feeding on hardwood trees of all kinds ( and even gathering on telephone poles , as our Brentwood residents
Around Brentwood
can attest to ), they have been noted to kill grapevines , black walnut saplings , and tree of heaven plants through overfeeding . Their sugary excrement ( called honeydew ) can also encourage black sooty mold growth — while this mold doesn ’ t harm people , it can also damage plants by blocking out sunlight from accessing the plant ’ s leaves and can be a deathblow to plants already injured by excessive feeding .
Question : What can the Borough do about spotted lanternflies ?
Answer : Unfortunately the answer is “ not a lot .” The Borough ’ s Public Works Department does not perform pest control duties , so they do not spray , treat , or remove spotted lanternflies from anyone ’ s property . If you have a tree on your property that is harboring spotted lanternflies or if you need to remove them , you will need to reach out to a qualified pest control specialist to see if they can assist you with the removal and control of spotted lanternflies .
Question : Since the Borough can ’ t do anything , what am I supposed to do ?! These things are everywhere !
Answer : We suggest following the state ’ s advice for reporting spotted lanternflies and proceeding to remove them . You can place a report online on the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture website or by calling 1-888-4BADFLY ( 1-888- 422-3359 ). It ’ s still important to call or fill out the online report them because it helps the State of Pennsylvania collect data on spotted lanternflies in the area , which will allow for better control and elimination measures after further research . The best thing that you can do beyond that is kill them .
The PennState Extension website on spotted lanternflies suggests that funnel-style traps on trees called circle traps can help to catch and kill them . If you see any on the sidewalk or along your walkways , squash them , swat them , or stomp on them — if you go to kill one , know that they are very jumpy and react to quick movements . If you see egg masses , scrape them off of surfaces into an alcohol solution or smash them to eliminate them . As tempting as it may be to try and nuke every spotted lanternfly you see with a can of RAID , use insecticide as a last resort and only if you have to , and start with the least toxic option first to avoid unnecessarily killing other beneficial and native insects .
Unfortunately , spotted lanternflies seem to be here to stay , as there isn ’ t much hope of eradicating them entirely considering how widespread they have become over the past few years . According to the Penn State Extension website on spotted lanternflies , they are a widespread pest in much of Northeast America and they are quickly moving south and west as well , with dead specimens spotted as far west as Oregon and California . However , they can still be monitored and controlled , and we can all do our part to report and manage spotted lanternflies in our area . They are active from January to October , so remember to keep an eye out for instars in the spring , adults in the summer , and eggs in the fall . rentwood
CITY BRIEFLY OF MCKEESPORT BRENTWOOD NEWS
cKeesport
BRENTWOOD-BALDWIN-WHITEHALL ❘ SPRING 2024 57