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Spotted Lanternfly

| By | Pests

Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula)

GDD Window (base 50): Adult emergence at 1100-1700

Overview:​​​

  • Overwinter as egg masses on smooth surfaces, looking like a patch of mud​
  • In mid-May, juveniles hatch from eggs and are black with white spots​
  • Nymphs grow and become red and black with white spots​
  • Nymphs mature into adults in July and August, with a black head, gray/black spotted forewings, and reddish black spotted hind wings​
  • Adults feed primarily on trunk and limbs of plants from August to October using sucking mouthparts​
  • Considered plant hoppers​
  • Excrete honeydew during feeding, which grows sooty mold​
  • Causes reduced photosynthesis and plant vigor, leaves may wilt or curl, sap may ooze from wounds​
  • Leads to reduced crop yield, branch die-off, weeping wounds (grayish black trails along the trunk)​
  • Host plants:  Over 70 species (grapes, fruit trees, hardwood trees)​
    • Tree of Heaven is the main host ​

Management:

Cultural Practices:
  • Natural predators: spined soldier bugs, Carolina and Chinese mantises, birds​
  • Crush nymphs and adults, or use a shop vacuum​
  • Syringing​
  • Pay attention to quarantines in your area​
  • Check your vehicles, tools, and plants before transplanting ​
Materials:
  • Contact insecticides:​
    • Pyrethroids [3]: –thrins​
    • Carbamates [1A]: carbaryl​
  • Systemic insecticides:​
    • Neonicotinoids [4A]: imidacloprid, dinotefuran ​
  • Considerations:​
    • Will harm non-target species​
Biorationals:
  • Tree of Heaven Trap Trees
      • Bring in potted Tree of Heaven as a SLF trap tree by treating trees with dinotefuran [4A]​

     

    A small tree in a potAI-generated content may be incorrect.
    Photo via  Steve Rettke, RCE

Spotted lanternfly adult & 4th instar nymphs. By late August, NJ will have these stages active. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
Spotted lanternfly gravid female. The enlarged yellow-colored abdomen indicates this female will soon begin to lay egg masses. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
Spotted lanternfly egg masses. The white colored egg mass is only a few hours old. After less than a day the egg mass will turn a darker gray color & blend in with the bark of the tree. The masses contains 30-50 eggs each. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
Disclaimer – Materials do not cover all possible control scenarios and are intended for licensed professionals. Tradenames do not imply endorsement and are used as examples. You must strictly follow the label for each compound prior to use. Rutgers is not responsible form is used materials or damages thereof. The label is the law. Labels will provide detailed information on use and restrictions. Additionally, application intervals, compatibility, surfactant use, PHI, PPE, important and other key information is described in detail. Always discuss treatments with your local agents. Note: Neonicotinoids can only be legally applied in commercial agriculture settings by licensed applicators. Guidelines and recommendations made in this presentation are specific to the state of New Jersey.