Baby lanternflies hatch in the spring with ravenous appetites. These eggs are laid on hard surfaces, such as buildings, rocks, and trees. Lanternflies lay their eggs in the autumn in 30 to 50 eggs clusters. Although they do not fly long distances, lanternflies spread to other areas when infested lumber is moved from place to place. As such, orchards and hardwood forests are especially at risk for lanternfly destruction. The lanternfly feeds on fruit and trees until the plants are destroyed. You are the best resource to watch for invasive species and help prevent the spread of the spotted lanternfly in North Carolina.How You Can Help Stop Invasive Lanternflies
There are no known biological controls or native predators for spotted lanternfly, so early detection and rapid response is the only way to keep this highly invasive pest out of our state. Look for additional spotted lanternfly in the area. If your report is spotted lanternfly, you will be contacted by Plant Industry Division staff for more information. You can kill the insect by squishing it or placing it in a container of rubbing alcohol. Take a photo and report the sighting on the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services online report tool at /SLF If you see a spotted lanternfly, you should do the following:
ARE LANTERN BUGS HARMFUL TO HUMANS HOW TO
Visit /SLF to learn how to identify the spotted lanternfly and compare them to some North Carolina look-alike insects. Spotted lanternflies are easier to identify this time of year when they are transitioning to the adult life stage and are at their largest size and have the most identifiable markings. “We don’t want to see this spread into our state, so the more eyes watching for this pest, the better.” “We have been aggressively treating and surveying an area in Forsyth County where an established population of spotted lanternfly was found last year,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. There are well-established populations of spotted lanternflies all along the East Coast from Massachusetts to Virginia, as well as West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, so travelers arriving in North Carolina from those areas should be especially vigilant. All life stages of the spotted lanternfly can move on vehicles and outdoor items. Though spotted lanterflies are capable of flight, they have moved through 14 states in eight years by human-assisted movement, which makes it important to carefully inspect your vehicle this long holiday weekend to ensure there are no hitchhikers. Spotted lanternflies are not harmful to humans or pets. Spotted lanternflies secrete a sticky substance called honeydew that attracts stinging insects and causes the growth of black sooty mold on anything under the canopy of an infested tree. Thanks to a citizen report, the NCDA&CS’s Plant Industry Division found its first established population of spotted lanternfly last summer in Kernersville. The insect is known to feed on a variety of plants, including grapes, apples, peaches and maple trees, and has more than 100 known hosts.
(Courtesy)Īs North Carolina residents prepare to travel for the Fourth of July holiday, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services officials are urging them to watch out for the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that can damage crops and trees. Spotted Lanternfly – L: Late Instar and R: Adult.
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