Spotted Lanternfly: What It Is and How to Protect Your…

The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an exotic, invasive pest that poses a serious threat to agricultural and landscape plants. Native to China, this insect is technically a planthopper, not a true fly. It feeds on more than 70 species of fruit trees, ornamental plants, hardwoods, and vines, including apples, birch, cherry, dogwood, grapes, lilac, maple, poplar, stone fruits, and tree-of-heaven.

Identification

Spotted lanternfly adults are approximately 1 inch long and 1/2 inch wide. They have grayish wings with black spots; wing tips are outlined in black. When disturbed or in flight, they display hind wings with contrasting patches of red and black partially separated by a white line. Legs and head are black and their abdomens are yellow with thick, black banding.

How Spotted Lanternflies Damage Trees

Spotted lanternflies do not attack fruit or foliage directly. Instead, they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on the woody parts of plants. This feeding leaves weeping wounds on trunks and stems that attract other pests and provide an entrance for disease. Heavy infestations can stress plants to the point of mortality.

Adult spotted lanternflies lay their egg masses on trees in the fall. Egg masses have also been found on other smooth surfaces such as stones, vehicles, or outdoor furniture. Newly laid egg masses are covered with a gray, putty-like substance, while older egg masses appear as 30 to 50 small seed deposits in a columnar arrangement about an inch long.

Preferred Host Plants

While spotted lanternflies feed on many species, they show a strong preference for tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima). High-value ornamentals, fruit trees, and hardwoods on private properties are also at significant risk.

What to Do If You Spot One

Early detection is vital to controlling this invasive pest. If you see spotted lanternfly eggs, scrape them off the surface and place them in a tightly sealed container with rubbing alcohol. If you collect an adult, place the specimen in a leak-proof container with rubbing alcohol.

Contact your local arborist immediately if you suspect a spotted lanternfly infestation. An expert arborist can assess the extent of any infestation and recommend targeted treatments to protect your trees.

Protecting Your Property

If spotted lanternflies are present in your area, proactive tree health care is your best defense. Keeping your trees vigorous and well-maintained through proper fertilization, pruning, and plant health care programs makes them more resilient to pest damage. Contact our expert arborists for a consultation on protecting the trees on your Nashville-area property.