Spotted lanternfly identification & organic control
Lycorma delicatula
No verified photo yet for spotted lanternfly. The identification notes below describe what to look for.
How to identify spotted lanternfly
An invasive planthopper from Asia, first found in Pennsylvania in 2014 and now spreading across the eastern and midwestern U.S. It sucks sap from grapevines, hops, maples, walnuts and fruit trees and coats everything below it in sticky honeydew that grows black sooty mold. Its favorite host is tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima). Many states run quarantines, so report sightings where your state asks you to.
Crops attacked by spotted lanternfly
Grape, Hops, Apple, Peach, Cherry, Plum, Blueberry, Maple, Walnut.
Nymphs and adults pierce stems and trunks and drink phloem sap in large groups. Heavy feeding weakens grapevines enough to kill them over one or two winters.
Life cycle
- Egg mass (Fall to spring) — Gray, mud-like smears of 30-50 eggs on bark, stone, vehicles and outdoor gear.
- Early nymph (May to July) — Small black nymphs with white spots feed on tender stems.
- Late nymph (July to August) — Red-and-black nymphs; feeding and honeydew increase.
- Adult (Late July until hard frost) — Gray wings with black spots, red hindwings. Mass feeding on grapes and trees; egg laying.
Natural, organic spotted lanternfly control
- 1. Scrape egg masses · low effort
Scrape masses into a bag of rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer with a plastic card, then seal and throw away.
When: October to April
- 2. Circle traps on trunks · low effort
Use a screened circle trap around trunks instead of sticky bands, which also catch birds and small animals.
When: May to November
- 3. Remove tree of heaven · high effort
Cut and treat female Ailanthus trees so the lanternflies lose their favorite food. Leave a few males as trap trees only if your extension office recommends it.
When: Summer
- 4. Insecticidal soap on nymphs · medium effort
Spray soap or neem directly on groups of nymphs; it only works on contact.
When: May to July
Fastest-fix products
- Circle trap — Catches nymphs climbing trunks without harming birds. · Garden centers, online
- Plastic scraper card — For egg masses. · Anywhere
Prevention
- Check your car, trailer, firewood and outdoor furniture for egg masses before leaving an infested area.
- Don't move firewood between counties.