The spotted lanternfly is threatening fruit and grape production (think about Pennsylvania's burgeoning wine industry) and at least 25 forest tree species. Immature spotted lanternfly. For years, foresters and woodland owners across Pennsylvania and the east have worried about how this invasive tree species can and will affect forests. Later instars have red patches in addition to the white spots. It was accidentally introduced in South Korea in 2006 and has since been considered a pest. Pamela Roy, Easement Stewardship Intern; Kristen Frentzel, Easement Manager; and Susan Charkes, Easement Steward, Invasive Species Spotlight: Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) and Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), Click here for the full text of the regulations, Support your local pollinators: plant a diverse landscape, The Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art. [13] Studies have shown that the brown sticky traps are more effective than blue and yellow sticky traps. They are the spotted lanternfly, which was accidentally introduced to the United States in Pennsylvania in 2014, and the tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), purposely introduced to the United States and Pennsylvania in 1784. Accessibility [4] It is a planthopper, belonging to the subfamily Aphaeninae and is approximately 25 mm long and 12 mm wide. If you have tree-of-heaven and spotted lanternfly on your property, there are measures you can take to help control the populations of both of these invasive species. A prolific seed producer and rapid grower, Ailanthus gains an advantage over other species by producing a toxin—distributed through its root systems—that inhibits the growth of other plants. While eggs, they can easily be moved from place to place without being noticed, giving them an easy way to spread to new areas. [4] Beginning in late April to early May, nymphs hatch from their egg cases. [38], A few natural predators have been identified in the lanternfly’s native habitat in China, but are not yet used in biocontrol. A nymph passes through several immature stages, called instars, all of which are wingless. It has smooth, thin bark and a straight stem. [23] In September 2018 it was found in two New York locations,[24] as well as in Virginia. There are many hypotheses as to why L. delicatula may have preferences for feeding on certain plants. [13], L. delicatula feeds on woody and non-woody plants, piercing the phloem tissue of foliage and young stems with specialized mouthparts, and sucking the sap;[9] it does not eat the fruit or the leaves per se. First, if you have not heard of the spotted lanternfly, you will. For more on the Spotted Lanternfly, watch this video by Penn State Extension. While the tree is generally considered short-lived (30 to 70 years), sprouts from the first tree planted in 1784 were still growing in Philadelphia's Bartram Botanical Garden at the turn of the 21st century. Photo credit: Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org. Spotted lanternflies show a strong preference for tree-of-heaven in the late summer and fall for feeding and laying their eggs. To successfully seed into an area, though, the seeds need sufficient light. [26], On August 14, 2020 the New York Department of Agriculture announced that spotted lanternfly has been found on Staten Island. In the first instar it is black with white spots. It is a frequent sight along roadways and disturbed forested areas in our region. It can even take advantages of cracks in sidewalks. It was originally described by Adam White in 1845 as Aphaena delicatula with habitat outside of Nankin, China. Penn State Hotlines If you have tree-of-heaven and spotted lanternfly on your property, there are measures you can take to help control the populations of both of these invasive species. Spouts will rapidly self-thin, but can form a competitive canopy. Importantly, though, controlling tree-of-heaven could play a role in slowing the lanternfly… This is the same tree. Limiting the spread and occurrence of tree-of-heaven might slow spotted lanternfly spread and subsequently protect other plants and trees injured by its feeding. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has classified the spotted lanternfly as a “public nuisance” because it poses a danger to forests, ornamental trees, orchards and grapes. [13] Testing has been done to determine how overwintering affects the eggs of the species. The Department had previously issued a quarantine order applicable to a Zone that includes Chester, Delaware, Lancaster and Montgomery Counties. Information and resources for the Ag Sciences community. However, researchers are working on this question. While it seems that the spotted lanternfly can reproduce on many trees and shrubs, it does seem to show a distinct preference for tree-of-heaven. [25] On February 28, 2019, the Delaware Department of Agriculture signed Emergency Regulations for spotted lanternfly enacting a quarantine for this pest.

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