![]() They lay their eggs on vehicles, firewood, outdoor furniture, stone, etc. SLF can jump and fly short distances, they spread primarily through human activity. ![]() In Pennsylvania, where SLF populations are the densest, people can't be outside without getting honeydew on their hair, clothes, and other belongings. The sticky mess and the swarms of insects it attracts can significantly hinder outdoor activities. The full extent of economic damage this insect could cause is unknown at this time.Īlthough native insects also secrete honeydew, the size of SLF and the large populations that congregate in an area result in large accumulations of it. New York's annual yield of apples and grapes has a combined value of $358.4 million, which could be greatly impacted by SLF. SLF also excrete large amounts of sticky "honeydew," which attracts sooty molds that interfere with plant photosynthesis, negatively affecting the growth and fruit yield of plants. This feeding by sometimes thousands of SLF stresses plants, making them vulnerable to disease and attacks from other insects. Adults and nymphs use their sucking mouthparts to feed on the sap of more than 70 plant species. SLF pose a significant threat to New York's agricultural and forest health. They are smooth and brownish-gray with a shiny, waxy coating when first laid. In the fall, adults lay 1-inch-long egg masses on nearly anything from tree trunks and rocks to vehicles and firewood. The lower portions of their hindwings are red with black spots and the upper portions are dark with a white stripe. Their forewings are grayish with black spots. Red nymphs can be seen from July until September.Īdults begin to appear in July and are approximately 1 inch long and ½ inch wide at rest, with eye-catching wings. The black nymphs can be seen as early as April and until July. Nymphs are black with white spots and turn red before transitioning into adults. Including SLF fact sheet, SLF look-alikes poster, and important links.Visit Cornell's Integrated Pest Management site for an up-to-date map of current infestation locations in the Northeast, including New York (leaves DEC website). The first New York State infestation was discovered in Staten Island in August 2020 (leaves DEC website). In the US, SLF was first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has since been found in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and New York. This insect could impact New York's forests as well as the agricultural and tourism industries. Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive pest from Asia that primarily feeds on tree of heaven ( Ailanthus altissima) but can also feed on a wide variety of plants such as grapevine, hops, maple, walnut, fruit trees and others. Spotted lanternfly, Photo: Lawrence Barringer,
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