Getting a jump on spotted lanternflies
It’s that time of year again! But this isn’t a celebratory story. These days, along with the return of warm weather we can also expect a new batch of spotted lanternflies.
This species, native to Asia, got its start in the U.S. in our area, arriving on a shipment to Berks County in 2014. The insect represents not just an annoyance, but also millions of dollars in damage to food crops. And, despite efforts at containment, the spotted lanternfly continues its spread. In just a few years, the quarantined counties in Pennsylvania have multiplied from just Philadelphia and its “collar” communities to a total of thirty-four counties.
In a 2020 study carried out in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, economists determined that if not contained, the spotted lanternfly potentially could drain Pennsylvania’s economy of at least $324 million annually and cause the loss of about 2,800 jobs.
So, what can we as individuals do to help contain this pest? Spotted lanternflies hatch in April/May. You may have noticed the tiny black-and-white nymphs already, usually on the smooth stems of certain plants. Ailanthus (Tree of Heaven) is their preferred host plant, but you’ll also find them on other plants, and on smooth surfaces in general, e.g., buildings and vehicles. (This is why folks in quarantine areas are advised to check their vehicles before driving into clear zones.)
Spotted lanternfly nymphs can see you coming and they’re excellent jumpers; it’s pretty hard to swat them. The adults, too, quickly zoom out of the way. Some people opt for wrapping trees on their property with sticky bands. This can be effective, however the bands trap good bugs as well as the bad, and sometimes also trap birds and other small wildlife. “If you use a sticky band, you should check it frequently and use a wildlife barrier to prevent bycatch,” said Heather Leach, extension associate in entomology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. (https:// www.pennlive.com/life/2020/08/ spotted-lanternfly-expert-warnsof-dangers-of-popular-insect-trap. html)
There’s now a safer and more effective trap that you can build. Here’s information from the PennState Extension website:
“Recent research has shown that an entirely different kind of type of trap is also very effective and can dramatically reduce the chances of capturing other creatures. This new style trap is made of plasticcoated insect screening and does not use any sticky material at all. It is basically a tunnel that SLFs walk into. When they move upward in the trap, they end up in a dead-end collection container where they die.
“The immature lanternflies (called nymphs) are often blown out of the canopy of the trees where they are feeding. Nymphs then walk to the trunk of trees and climb back up to start feeding again. We can take advantage of this predictable behavior of the nymphs by using traps to catch them as they climb up trees.”
Instructions on how to build the trap are available on the PennState Extension website. (https://extension.psu.edu/how-to-build-a-newstyle-spotted-lanternfly-circle-trap) You’ll need a few basic supplies: a rectangle of a window screen, a few small pieces of wood, some wire, plastic milk jugs, duct tape, stapler, hot glue, and other minor pieces.
Last year, I saw a couple of these traps in action. They were full of spotted lanternflies. Definitely a step in the right direction.
Note: I’ve been seeing far fewer bumblebees this spring and exactly two honeybees. Is anyone else witnessing the same?
Pam Baxter is an avid organic vegetable gardener who lives in Kimberton. Direct e-mail to pamelacbaxter@gmail.com, or send mail to P.O. Box 80, Kimberton, PA 19442. Share your gardening stories on Facebook at “Chester County Roots.” Pam’s book for children and families, Big Life Lessons from Nature’s Little Secrets, is available on Amazon, along with her companion field journal, Explore Outdoors, at Amazon.com/author/ pamelabaxter.