I'm seeing spotted lanternflies on my trees. What should I do?

The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive planthopper spreading rapidly through the eastern US. While it rarely kills established trees outright, it stresses them, produces enormous amounts of honeydew (leading to sooty mold), and is a major nuisance and agricultural threat.

Identification by season:

• Spring/early summer: Black nymphs with white spots, later developing red patches
• Late summer/fall: Showy adults ~1 inch long with gray forewings (black spots) and bright red underwings
• Fall/winter: Mud-like egg masses on trunks, rocks, outdoor furniture, and vehicles

What to do:

1. Scrape and destroy egg masses (fall through spring) into a bag with hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol.
2. Remove tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) from your property — it's the lanternfly's preferred host and a magnet for them.
3. Circle traps on trunks capture climbing nymphs; avoid sticky bands, which catch birds.
4. Report sightings to your state department of agriculture — tracking spread matters, and many states have quarantine programs.
5. Squash adults and nymphs when you see them; every female stopped prevents 30-50 eggs.

Systemic insecticides exist but should be used cautiously near pollinators — consult a certified arborist. Check our seasonal forecast to see when activity peaks in your area.