The Spotted Lanternfly

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The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, is an invasive planthopper native to Asia, first found in North America in southeastern Pennsylvania in 2014 and has since spread to other areas throughout the country, including right here in Arlington. We expect the population will increase for the next few years, likely peaking in 2028 or 2029, then will begin declining. Arlington is working to treat and then remove their preferred host, Tree of Heaven, on county properties. Residents may want to make plans to do the same thing. 

SLF feeds on a wide range of plants, including grapevines, hops, ornamental plants, and various tree species. While SLF feeding can stress plants and cause localized damage, it is not currently known to directly kill them. It is considered a plant stressor that may weaken established plants and trees over time and is primarily viewed as a nuisance pest in residential areas.

SLF nymphs and adults are very mobile, frequently moving between different plants and properties as they develop. Because they are constantly on the move, they are difficult to target, and there are no preventative pesticide treatments that can stop them from entering your property. It's important to know that spotted lanternflies will not bite or harm people or pets.

SLF are now found in many areas and no longer need to be reported to the state.

What to Look For

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Spotted Lanternfly Nypmph

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Spotted Lanternfly Adult

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Spotted Lanternfly Egg Mass

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  • Appearance
    • Nymphs (juvenile spotted lanternflies) are black with white spots and turn red as they develop.
    • Adults, roughly 1-inch long and 1/2-inch wide, have a yellow, black-barred abdomen. With large, visually striking wings, adult spotted lanternflies can be easier to spot than other pests. They have brown forewings with black spots at the front and a speckled band at the rear. Their hind wings are scarlet with black spots at the front and white and black bars at the rear.
  • Eggs
    • Newly laid egg masses (holding 30-50 eggs) resemble wet, gray putty before turning dull and brown, mirroring a smear of cracked mud. The 1-inch long egg masses can be seen in fall, winter, and spring on a variety of smooth surfaces, such as trees, bricks, stones, fences, grills, equipment, and vehicles. 
  • Oozing sap
    • When spotted lanternflies feed on plants, they leave behind a sticky, oozing residue called honeydew. This substance attracts other insects, causes sooty mold growth, and further hurts plants.

What to Do

Natural predators are beginning to recognize them as a food source, which over time will reduce their numbers. In the meantime, here are some ways you can safely manage spotted lanternfly on your property:

NOTE: DO NOT use sticky traps on trees.They are not permitted in Arlington County parks.They trap more than just spotted lanternflies, often endangering beneficial insects and small wildlife like birds (download printable flyer here(PDF, 2MB)).

In the meantime, here are some ways you can stop the spotted lanternfly from overtaking plants:

  • Keep Plants Healthy: Damage to roots, too little or too much water, and other environmental factors have a greater impact on plant health than SLF, even when high numbers of insects are present.  SLF can be a contributing stress factor but has only been shown to directly cause the death of Tree of Heaven, Grapes, and young walnut trees.
  • Control Nymphs and Adults: If you're certain you've identified SLFs,  mechanical controls such as squashing them, spraying them with soapy water, or vacuuming are recommended.  Circle traps are also commercially available. We caution against using insecticides because they can cause harm to beneficial insects.
  • Destroy Eggs: Look for egg masses in your trees (in particular, tree-of-heaven), bricks, stones, and other smooth surfaces. If you find eggs, smash them and scrape them into a plastic zippered bag filled with hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol to kill them. Then, zip the bag shut and dispose of it in the trash.
  • Tree of Heaven:  Remove tree-of-heaven if possible. They attract SLF resulting in heavy infestations with a messy build-up of honeydew underneath.  Feeding on these trees makes SLF less palatable to predators and enhances their reproductive success as well. 
  • Slow the spread: Learn where SLF has not yet been detected.  If you're traveling through infestation free areas, thoroughly inspect items being moved - vehicles, outdoor furniture, propane tanks, pallets, and other items being stored outdoors before they're moved offsite. If found, destroy any eggs or insects you find.

References:
PennState Extension
USDA
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Fairfax County

Quick Facts

The SLF

  • Cannot bite or sting.
  • Is a plant stressor that, in combination with other stressors (e.g., other insects, diseases, weather), can cause damage to its host. SLF alone may not kill the tree.
  • Is an invasive pest that poses a significant threat to peach, apple, grape and wine industries across Virginia and the country.
  • Manage SLF on your property by promoting plant health and using mechanical controls.

Additional Resources

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