BRIAN PAIGE
Pest RECEIVES Update ( continued )
BEACON AWARD
BRIAN PAIGE
Pest RECEIVES Update ( continued )
BEACON AWARD
observed in the US . Death of individual branches on susceptible hosts has been observed . The impact of this new invasive insect in the United States is not currently fully understood .
In Europe , it is common that the elm zigzag sawfly outbreaks regularly and defoliates urban trees and large tracts of natural forest , however mortality of entire trees has not been reported there . Some trees are known to create new foliage following defoliation in a single season .
New Detections in MA in 2024 Elm zigzag sawfly was first detected in Becket , MA in August of 2023 . Since then , it has been detected in the following Massachusetts communities in 2023 : Williamstown , Windsor , Chester , Deerfield , and Sunderland and in 2024 : New Ashford , Dalton , Hinsdale , Washington , Great Barrington , Tyringham , Chesterfield , Williamsburg , Westfield , Holyoke , Granby , Amherst , and Greenfield .
Spotted Lanternfly
Hosts & Damage Spotted lanternflies feed on many plant species but are typically first seen on treeof-heaven and are an agricultural pest of grapes . Both the adult and immature life stages of the spotted lanternfly use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on their host plants . They remove massive quantities of host plant fluid and excrete it as a liquid excrement known as honeydew . Honeydew can be seen and feels like light rain or mist coming from the canopy of infested trees . It will coat the surface of any objects ( including other plants ) below . By August in Massachusetts , many hymenopterous insects ( ants , bees , and wasps ) are very much attracted to this honeydew , and the activity of the swarming wasps and bees that are feeding on the honeydew is often easier to spot than the lanternflies themselves . Black sooty mold can also be found growing on surfaces ( and leaves ) coated in honeydew .
Leaf loss of small diameter tree-of-heaven has been seen in MA and other states due to the feeding activity of this insect , and branch dieback and flagging has been seen on black walnut in PA . Vineyards in PA have been documented to have suffered losses of grapes due to spotted lanternfly feeding . The impact of this insect on all the over 100 species of documented host plants is not fully understood at this time . Observations from PA indicate that the nymphs have a broad host range and will feed on virtually any new or tender plant growth . Adults , on the other hand , seem to prefer the woody stems of certain tree species and vines , including tree-of-heaven .
Spotted lanternfly is a plant stressor , which when combined with other biotic or abiotic plant stresses , may contribute to significant damage to their host plants . However , some hosts ( grapes , tree-of-heaven , maple , black walnut ) may be at more risk than others . Feeding damage can also result in yield loss or quality reduction of agricultural crops .
New Detections in MA in 2024 Spotted lanternfly now has established populations in the following locations in Massachusetts as of 2021 : Fitchburg ; 2022 : Springfield , Worcester , and Shrewsbury ; 2023 : Holyoke , West Springfield , Agawam , Southborough , Ashland , Chelmsford , Weston , and Wellesley ; and as of 2024 : Chicopee , Ludlow , Wilbraham , Grafton , Lawrence , Lynn , and Seekonk , MA . Note : since this article was published , additional locations with spotted lanternfly infestations have been confirmed ( as of 2024 ) by the MA Department of Agricultural Resources , including : Andover and Attleboro , MA .
Note : this article includes the best infestation information available at the time of publication . While most of the information is up to date , the number of locations of infestations of each of these insects may have already increased , as this information can change daily . Please check the MA Department of Agricultural Resources and MA Department of Conservation and Recreation , Forest Health Program web pages and maps for updates .
Excerpted from Hort Notes 2024 Vol . 35:7 September 2024 .
MALP Newsline | Winter 2025 21