Stomp on sight: the scourge of the lanternfly

As the New River and Roanoke Valleys embrace fall, an increasingly common pest  is laying the groundwork for its next generation. 

Why it matters: The spotted lanternfly, an invasive species, poses threats to agriculture, trade and native species. It is also a nuisance to property owners.

• According to Virginia Tech’s Insect Identification Lab, by September lanternflies are in their adult stage and are beginning to lay egg masses. The eggs will overwinter and hatch in the late spring. 
• They feed on grapevines and cause declines in the health, yield and sugar content of grapes intended for usage in the wine industry. They can also cause harm to stone fruit, hops and more.

The big picture: The existence of the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) in the United States is thought to have originated from trade coming out of northern China.

• It was first detected in the United States in eastern Pennsylvania in 2014. The first record of the species in Virginia was in Winchester in 2018.
• Egg masses travel on pallets, ornamental rocks and shipping containers if preventative measures are not taken.
• According to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), there are at least 17 states with recorded infestations.
• Spotted lanternflies are well adapted to handling cold climates in this part of the United States, where there is only one generation a year, and could thrive in warmer ones similar to South Asia, where there are multiple generations in a year.

Zoom in: Spotted lanternflies are becoming established in Roanoke and Radford. Reasonably, this means there is potential for greater expansion within the New River Valley and Roanoke Valley.

• “Radford is infested with spotted lanternfly. It’s on the edge of campus that faces towards the railroad tracks. We get reports from Fairlawn,” said Eric Day, manager of the Insect Identification Lab. “The other infestation area in Montgomery County is Ironto at that truck stop, there’s a population there as well too.”
• One was even recently found on Virginia Tech’s campus following a tailgate. 

Zoom Out: Spotted lanternflies are adaptable and could be coming to your yard next.

• They are effective at traveling on human transports. On their own, they may move three to five miles.
• The preferred food source of the spotted lanternfly is tree of heaven, which is another common invasive species hailing from China. Increased presence of this tree means increased habitability of a location for the spotted lanternfly.
• Spotted lanternfly droppings, referred to as honeydew, cause a sooty mold on other trees including maples. These droppings attract yellow jackets and other biting or stinging insects.
• 12 counties and 10 cities in Virginia, mostly in the Shenandoah Valley and in Northern Virginia, are currently under quarantine regarding spotted lanternfly. Businesses in the area must obtain a permit from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and undergo inspection for all regulated articles. 
• “It’s that sort of unfortunate stage where they are moving into the established pest stage. It was new and we [were] looking for new reports and everything – that’s what took up a lot of time, getting the word out,” Day said. “And now, I hate to say it, it’s here.”

What we’re watching: New reports of spotted lanternflies are coming in frequently. Expansion has the potential to occur rapidly. 

• While the most effective way to keep lanternflies away from home is to be cautious with purchases, there are also insecticides that consumers can choose to use.

If you find a spotted lanternfly in an area where an invasion has not already been identified, please be sure to report it to your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.