Spotted lanternflies to emerge soon across Conn.
The insects, now in their egg stage, and will emerge as nymphs in May
any early sightings of lanternflies so far this year, but implores people to become vigilant before the bugs become “active.”
“Last year was the first year that we hit levels that people really noticed. I suspect it will be similar this summer.nIt just might just be a little more widespread geographically where we get people really noticing,” Rutledge said.
Since the species is “transitory,” Rutledge said that “it’s possible that the areas that saw the heaviest last year will not see the heaviest this year.”
“They move a lot,” Rutledge added.
In order to get ahead of the emergence this spring, CAES is advising residents to remove egg masses when spotted. Eggs are yellowish-brown in color on the inside, and gray and clay-like on the exterior. Egg masses looked cracked on the surface. Lanternfly egg masses are typically between two and three inches in length, and can be found on trees, bricks, stones and dead plants. Egg masses should be scraped into a plastic bag filled with hand sanitizer and squashed.
Another way to help curb lanternfly populations is by removing tree of heaven, an invasive plant species, from properties. According to Rutledge, these plants act as the primary host for lanternflies, and removing them can help lower their longevity and also force them to produce less eggs.
However, Rutledge advised homeowners to not “be quick for the pesticides.” Aside from impacting crops, such as soft fruits, lanternflies do not affect humans and while they may be a “nuisance,” “they’re not any more of a problem than say, aphids,” Rutledge said.
“The main agricultural concern and economic concern for these guys is vineyards because they do love grapes and they will stay on grapes for a long time,” Rutledge added. “It a serious pest and we would like to get rid of it.”
Lanternfly sightings can be reported via a form on the CAES website.