Invasive spotted lanternflies have hit the Washington, D.C., region and spread to 12 states across the United States. While the species doesn’t pose a threat to humans, it can do serious damage to plants and trees.
Chinese lanternflies made their way to the U.S. in 2014, beginning in Pennsylvania, even though they’re native to China, India, and Vietnam.
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The insects typically hatch from mid-April to June, and reach their largest and most harmful size, about 1 inch, by July.
What are Chinese lanternflies and what do they look like?
Scientists call these insects plant-hoppers, as they feed on the sap of plants — such as grapes, hardwood trees, hops, and stone fruits — and discharge a sugary liquid called honeydew.
Experts say the lanternflies most likely made their way to the U.S. by hopping aboard a shipment of stone. The species was first spotted in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
The insect has a life cycle of “one generation per year” due to hatching in late spring or early summer, then going through the four nymphal stages and one adult stage. Once fall hits, lanternflies hatch their eggs before winter kills them, according to Cornell Integrated Pest Management.
Chinese lanternflies molt as they progress through stages.
In the first three nymphal stages, the insects are black with white spots, often being mistaken for ticks. By their fourth stage, Chinese lanternflies become red with white spots. Once the insect hits its adult stage, they have black-spotted, pinkish-tan wings, spanning 1 inch.
How are Chinese lanternflies harmful?
Chinese lanternflies don’t bite or sting, but feed on over 70 different plant species. Their favorite plant is the “tree of Heaven,” or Ailanthus altissima, an invasive species common in urban areas.
When the insects remove the plants’ sap, they weaken trees, damage crops, and create a sticky residue that attracts mold. The mold growth stops sunlight from getting to plant leaves, hindering photosynthesis, according to scientists.
If a Chinese lanternfly takes sap from grapes, the honeydew leftover can damage the plant, causing it to be unable to make wine. If a bee feeds on the leftover honeydew, it can cause its honey to hold a smoky, earthy flavor undesirable to consumers.
Additionally, the honeydew left by lanternflies can leave a sticky trail on plants, cars, and patios.
How many Chinese lanternflies have been spotted in the DC area?
An exact estimate is impossible to know. Chinese lanternflies can fly and jump, traveling by “hitchhiking,” which is one of the biggest reasons the population has spread.
Adult lanternflies can travel quickly by flying into an open car window or into the back of a truck. Then the insect lays its eggs on nearly any surface and moves to a new spot.
What can you do to get rid of them?
The most optimal way to get rid of a Chinese lanternfly is to kill it. While there is no permanent solution to exterminate the entire species, experts say they expect the insect to fade away gradually over time, similar to spongy moths, or gypsy moths, which infiltrated the region 10 years ago.
To repel Chinese lanternflies from your area, try to remove any Trees of Heaven to avoid the insects from gravitating to you.
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Entomologists and ornithologists have noticed that native birds are learning to eat the invasive insects and want to figure out how to encourage more birds to eat more of the lanternflies.
Additionally, researchers at Virginia Tech have been training dogs to sniff out egg masses, hoping humans can kill them before they hatch.