A native of Southeast Asia, the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) was first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014. Historically an agricultural pest, the spotted lanternfly is known to wreak havoc on fruit trees, grapevines, and ornamentals.
While agriculture was their initial target, spotted lanternflies are now also found in backyards, gardens, orchards, woodlands, and community landscapes. Without adequate pest control, spotted lanternflies can multiply quickly, increasing the chance of a major infestation that can damage outdoor plants and ornamentals, resulting in costly repairs.
Seeing spotted lanternflies on trees in your yard? Learn how you can control them with Ehrlich.
Knowing how to identify a spotted lanternfly in all of its life stages will help slow the spread of this invasive species. When they feed on plant sap, they cause wilting, leaf curl, and bark wounds, and they can kill tree branches or entire saplings. If you see any signs of activity in your yard, destroy it immediately. However, if you have an infestation and need spotted lanternfly control, call us.
Found September - May
Spotted lanternfly egg masses are typically laid in late fall and early winter, allowing them to survive through cold temperatures and hatch in spring. Each mass contains 30–60 eggs.
At first glance, a fresh egg mass resembles a smear of gray or tan putty. As it ages, the surface can crack and weather, blending easily into tree bark, stone, wood, outdoor furniture, vehicles, and other smooth surfaces. This camouflage allows egg masses to go unnoticed for months, contributing to the lanternfly’s rapid spread.
Egg masses are commonly found on preferred host trees such as tree-of-heaven, maple, walnut, and fruit trees, but they are also found on outdoor furniture, rocks, and vehicles.
Once temperatures rise, eggs hatch into small nymphs that immediately begin feeding and spreading. Preventing hatching is one of the most effective ways to reduce infestations.
Found April - October
Spotted lanternfly nymphs develop through four instar stages before becoming adults. An instar is simply a growth phase between molts, during which the insect sheds its outer skin to grow larger.
The fourth instar is larger and much more colorful. At this stage, spotted lanternfly nymphs develop bold red patches along with black and white markings. This is the final nymph stage before they turn into winged adults later in the summer.
Found July - November
Adult spotted lanternflies are often mistaken for moths or butterflies, mainly because of their size and wings. When at rest, their wings fold flat and appear gray with black spots, giving them a dull, camouflaged look. Once they move or take flight, the bright red, black, and white hind wings flash into view, which surprises many people and adds to the confusion.
This difference between “at rest” and “in motion” is why adults are frequently misidentified. Someone may see a gray, spotted insect on a tree and assume it’s harmless, then later notice a red-winged insect flying and think it’s something entirely different. In reality, both are the same pest.
Adult spotted lanternflies are present from mid-summer through fall; this is the most damaging life stage for vegetation.
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Understanding the behavior, habits, life cycle, and damage caused by the spotted lanternfly can be helpful when planning your response. Armed with this knowledge, your spotted lanternfly control strategy is more likely to make a lasting impact and protect your trees and outdoor spaces against future infestations.
Spotted lanternflies prefer to live on plants and trees, including ornamental, woody, fruit trees, vegetables, herbs, grains, and vines. Their preferred host is the tree of heaven.
The spotted lanternfly can harm agriculture and landscapes by feeding on sap from trees, vines, and ornamental plants. Over time, this feeding weakens plants, causing wilting, leaf loss, and reduced growth.
In addition to direct harm, the insects excrete a sugary liquid that encourages mold growth and attracts other pests, which can further impact plant health. The result is not only visual damage but also potential long-term stress to trees and crops.
Effective spotted lanternfly control methods focus on targeting all stages of the insect, from spotted lanternfly eggs to adults, to reduce infestations and limit future spread.
There is one generation of spotted lanternfly each year. Females lay their eggs in the fall, which then hatch in the spring. The Spotted lanternfly goes through four nymph stages before vadults emerge, usually in July. These remain active until winter, but lanternfly winter survival rates are low, as the adults do not survive the cold temperatures. Only the eggs overwinter, allowing the cycle to restart each spring.
Spotted lanternflies feed on the sap of leaves, stems, and trunks of plants and trees. They end up sucking in more sap than they can handle, causing them to excrete the excess. This excretion is a sticky substance that can grow mold and attract other insects.
Spotted lanternflies are typically found in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware. Ehrlich services spotted lanternflies in these states, but they are more common in some areas than in others. If you have frequent problems, check out which branches near you provide spotted lanternfly control.
Spotted lanternflies can cause severe damage to trees, crops, and many other plants. They also leave behind a sticky substance that can attract other pests, including stinging insects and ants. This substance encourages the growth of black, sooty mold.
Spotted lanternflies do not bite humans, as their mouths cannot penetrate human skin.
Spotted lanternfly eggs hatch in the spring. Lanternflies will lay their eggs in the fall between September and December. The eggs will develop at the beginning of spring and hatch in May.
Spotted lanternfly egg masses are laid on hard surfaces like trees, decks, houses, rocks, or any furniture or equipment that is stored outdoors. Their egg masses can contain up to 60 eggs and are protected with a mud-like covering.
The best way to prevent spotted lanternflies from being attracted to your property is to remove their preferred tree of choice, the tree of heaven, from your yard. If you notice any egg masses, destroy them immediately by scraping them off, putting them in a container with rubbing alcohol, and then disposing of them. In early spring, you can apply sticky tree bands to your trees to catch nymphs.
Also, spotted lanternflies are great hitchhikers. You can avoid transporting them by inspecting your vehicle, trailer, or any outdoor items before you leave for another location.
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