PA - Spotted Lanternfly invasion in Pennsylvania: Urgent call for community action to curb population surge

[steeltowngirl]

So today I went to fill up my auto gas tank. Wouldn’t you know, one of these buggers managed to get inside my car while I was filling and I didn’t know… until.. you guessed it - if flew down my shirt while I was driving.

 

[Inthedetails]

Spotted lanternfly ‘stomp’ season gains attention as 14 states fight the invasive pests: ‘Ew’

Americans who are dealing with lanternfly infestations appear to be sharing photos and videos of the spotted insects with fascination and disgust.

nypost.com

 

[steeltowngirl]

“Evolutionarily, this seems odd,” says Urban in an email. “Why emerge as an adult in July and not mate and lay eggs until September through November?” After all, every day spent as an adult means a greater risk of getting eaten, contracting a disease, or getting stomped by a Pittsburgh Steeler’s fan.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1697398867849871871

 

[Inthedetails]

Is New York City’s Lanternfly Killing Spree Working?

The infestation of invasive spotted lanternflies is leveling off in some parts of the city, and growing in others. Officials are urging New Yorkers to keep killing them.

www.nytimes.com

NYTimes allows subscribers to share gift links to articles. The link will be good for two weeks.

 

[CCJD]

The state continues to say to smash 'em so they don't harm vegetation, but a recent study from Penn State found they may not cause as much harm as once thought.

While they are certainly pests, we have been told they can damage our gardens or our trees, but really, that might not be the case.

"There are only a few different hosts that it stays on for months and months, which is what it takes to really cause severe damage," said Dr. Kelli Hoover, a professor of entomology at Penn State.

Smashing lanternflies and smashing myths: Study finds they may not be as harmful as once thought

A new study out of Penn State finds that spotted lanternflies may not cause as much damage as once believed.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[steeltowngirl]

The state continues to say to smash 'em so they don't harm vegetation, but a recent study from Penn State found they may not cause as much harm as once thought.

While they are certainly pests, we have been told they can damage our gardens or our trees, but really, that might not be the case.

"There are only a few different hosts that it stays on for months and months, which is what it takes to really cause severe damage," said Dr. Kelli Hoover, a professor of entomology at Penn State.

Smashing lanternflies and smashing myths: Study finds they may not be as harmful as once thought

A new study out of Penn State finds that spotted lanternflies may not cause as much damage as once believed.

www.cbsnews.com

I’m not giving up just yet. The grapevines are needed by the local wineries! We can’t let these pests reach California. They have enough to deal with due to wildfires.

Of equal concern is the invasive tree-of-heaven, the preferred host of the SLF. It sounds like the process to eradicate them is tricky.

Let’s hope the lantern flies destroy some of the tree-of-heaven this season.

Tree-of-Heaven: Best Herbicide Treatment and Removal Timing

Removing the Tree-of-Heaven (TOH): During the winter, arborist companies will often take advantage of the slow season and perform needed tree removal services for clients. However, these profession…

plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu

 

[acutename]

I’m not giving up just yet. The grapevines are needed by the local wineries! We can’t let these pests reach California. They have enough to deal with due to wildfires.

Of equal concern is the invasive tree-of-heaven, the preferred host of the SLF. It sounds like the process to eradicate them is tricky.

Let’s hope the lantern flies destroy some of the tree-of-heaven this season.

Tree-of-Heaven: Best Herbicide Treatment and Removal Timing

Removing the Tree-of-Heaven (TOH): During the winter, arborist companies will often take advantage of the slow season and perform needed tree removal services for clients. However, these profession…

plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu

I believe that some land managers actually leave one or two trees of heaven to attract and concentrate the lantern flies and then kill them on the trees... not sure how well this strategy works. Found a source:

""Because spotted lanternfly is drawn to the tree of heaven, we can use the tree to attract and then kill these invasive insects. This is known as the trap tree method. For the trap tree method to work, we must first kill most of the existing tree of heaven, leaving just a few to be the trap trees."

Controlling Tree of Heaven: Why it Matters​

Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art
https://www.brandywine.org › conservancy › blog › i...





Jun 13, 2018 — The trap trees are then treated with a systemic insecticide. When spotted lanternfly feeds on the treated trees, they will die. As always, you ...

 

[steeltowngirl]

I noticed today that the bees are eating at the newly dead SLF. I hope that’s good news. Maybe the bees will start to like the taste, join the fight, and begin attacking LIVE SLF.

 

[steeltowngirl]

The lanternflies are in the egg laying stage - let’s spot ‘em and get ‘em.

How To Remove Spotted Lanternfly Eggs

Learn how to scrape and destroy spotted lanternfly egg masses, which are visible between October and July.

extension.psu.edu

Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Blog » Blog Archive » Pest ID Tools: Spotted Lanternfly Egg Masses

 

[Inthedetails]

Nice segment

 

[ifindedout]

Nice segment

Great job Bobbi!

 

[Friday Fan]

How awful.
Texas has tons of bugs, mainly the American Cockroach, (AKA Palmetto Bug, Water Bug).
The thing is, the American Cockroach is not native to the US.
It's an invasive specie from the Eastern Hemisphere that came over with sailors very early on.

Good news: Texas is considered, "unsuitable" for the lantern fly!

Spotted lanternfly - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[ifindedout]

The lanternflies are in the egg laying stage - let’s spot ‘em and get ‘em.

How To Remove Spotted Lanternfly Eggs

Learn how to scrape and destroy spotted lanternfly egg masses, which are visible between October and July.

extension.psu.edu

Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Blog » Blog Archive » Pest ID Tools: Spotted Lanternfly Egg Masses

View attachment 447471

Don't neglect your roof. Might be difficult if you have solar panels (I don't).

 

[steeltowngirl]

Don't neglect your roof. Might be difficult if you have solar panels (I don't).

Wonder if I can hire someone to go up there. Worse yet, I have a ground level deck. I am pretty sure they nested under there where I can’t access. Ugh.

 

[Elley Mae]

Their here, BWI airport area.

 

[steeltowngirl]

They’re here, BWI airport area.

I am so sorry. They are awful. I used to love sitting outside on my deck, now it’s just a battle against hundreds of these bugs.

15 states now.

https://www.bnd.com/news/state/illinois/article279819654.html

 

[steeltowngirl]

I’m feeling proud of myself. I just smashed 2 at the same time. I think they were mating.

 

[steeltowngirl]

One artist's holiday salute to the spotted lanternfly

It's one lanternfly you don't have to kill.

www.wtae.com

Local artist selling 2023 Pittsburgh Christmas ornament featuring spotted lanternfly

The ornament features a spotted lanternfly to commemorate the year.

www.wpxi.com

 

[steeltowngirl]

As we enter the season, I wanted to share a good article. Apparently these guys are hitting other trees besides tree of heaven. Crape Myrtle, birch, willow and more. Stay vigilant, we have stomping and scraping to do!

Getting Ready for Spotted Lanternfly in 2024

3/1/2024 JC Chong

www.growertalks.com

 

[CCJD]

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