NJ's Defense Against Spotted Lanternfly Destruction Begins Now

NEW JERSEY — During spring lawn cleanup, keep your eyes out for spotted lanternfly egg masses, an effective way to slow the spread in New Jersey of this pretty but destructive plant hopper that Agriculture Department officials say poses a serious threat to the nation’s grape, orchard and logging industries.

The bug, first spotted in the US in Berks County, Pa., feeds on sap from hardwood trees and crops.

This puts extra stress on the plants and can even cause them to die, according to agricultural researchers.

Established spotted lanternfly populations were recorded last year in 14 states, including New Jersey, but also Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia.

NJ's department of agriculture has all counties listed as a "spotted lanternfly quarantine zone," designed to keep residents and visitors from transporting the insects around the state.

Residents are asked to check for egg masses, nymphs, and adult lanternflies in a variety of items before transporting them such as building materials, yard and garden items, and camping gear. Businesses that routinely travel in and out of the quarantine zones are required to have a permit by passing this free training course, and abide by the terms of the quarantine order.

Already this year, some other states, including Pennsylvania, are expanding spotted lanternfly quarantine areas with expected exploding populations.

Spotted lanternflies also excrete sugary honeydew as waste, which builds up on surfaces and attracts bees, wasps, and other insects. The waste build-up also leads to sooty mold growing on the plant, said experts, "which can cover the plant, forest understories, patio furniture, cars, and anything else found below SLF feeding."

The pest can reduce quality of life for people living in heavily infested areas, said the NJ Department of Agriculture.

Most states are at risk because spotted lanternfly populations move around easily, according to the USDA. Besides the trees they feed on, their preferred places to lay their mud-like egg masses, which can contain as many as 50 eggs, are surfaces on movable objects such as bicycles, lawnmowers, grills and the family car.

Removing and destroying egg masses now before hungry nymphs emerge is the best defense against their spread, ag officials say. The insects are at their most destructive at that point, feeding on more than 100 varieties of fruit, ornamental and woody trees, as well as vines, vegetables, herbs and grains. Areas with substantial grape industries are worried because a spotted lanternfly infestation can not only reduce yield, but lower the sugar in remaining grapes.

Here’s what to look for:

By now, egg masses will have faded from glossy white to gray or brown, and they’re about an inch and a half long. If you find an egg mass:

Take a picture and report it to New Jersey Department of Agriculture. Scrape off egg masses, put them in a plastic zippered bag filled with hand sanitizer, then zip the bag and dispose of it in the garbage.

In a widespread population control effort, people in areas with infestations were encouraged to squish adult lantern flies — before they deposited their egg masses — wherever they encountered them.

“Harming our city's wildlife is prohibited, but in an effort to slow the spread of this troublesome species, we are putting out a one-time call: If you see a spotted lanternfly, please squish and dispose of this invasive pest,” the New York City Parks Department said last August.

Last year, ag officials said spotted lanternflies were moving westward into the central United States, with new reports filed in Iowa, Michigan and North Carolina. Reports were also filed in Kansas in 2021. States farther west, including Utah, California and Oregon, have observed dead lanternflies, though it’s unclear if the plant hoppers naturally migrated there, or hitched a ride with humans.