Even though Spotted Lanternflies do not sting or bite people, they cause enough damage to be dangerous.
They feed on host plants and trees like fruit trees and hardwoods, as they continue to create excess damage. Because they swarm in large groups, they can be an eyesore, and a nuisance to quality of life.
Spotted Lanternflies damage host plants and trees feeding on them, or sucking out sap.
When feeding they create wounds and sap oozes. Eventually the plant does not perform well, or produce less fruit, and may become delayed or die altogether.
Adult Spotted Lanternflies excrete honeydew which not only creates more problems for the affected plant, and the honeydew becomes sticky mold by attracting other pests to feed on the substance.
Why Are Spotted Lanternflies an Invasive Species?
The Spotted Lanternfly is labeled as an invasive species within the United States and some Asian countries, including Japan and South Korea.
A species is called invasive once they unintentionally have entered into a new location, and these species typically result in damage to their newly invaded location.
In the case of Spotted Lanternflies, they are a pest to economically important trees such as Oak and black walnut.
Another reason that people do not like invasive species is that they do not have predators in their newly invaded area.
For this reason: they reproduce to the point it is out of control. They move into new locations and are unnoticed and their populations without predators quickly increase to infestation levels around humans.
How Are Spotted Lanternflies Spreading?
As stated previously, there is growing concern among arborists and foresters in Asia and the United States about how quickly the Spotted Lanternfly is spreading.
Adult Spotted Lanternflies can only travel a short distance due to their flying ability and wings.
As such, the most efficient way by which this insect spreads its species is through its eggs.
Spotted Lanternflies lay anywhere from 30 to 50 eggs at a time. The eggs appear as masses coated in a wax that can easily blend in with mud, which is called an ootheca.
Once the ootheca dries and cracks, it can easily camouflage itself to tree bark.
It can lay its eggs on fence posts and abandoned furniture as well.
It is usually humans who unknowingly transport the eggs long distances from one area to another.
The fact that they have no native predators, such as parasitic wasps, is also facilitating the mass reproduction of Spotted Lanternflies.
They have no need to be worried about predators in their new environment.
Even Better: The eggs can survive through cold winters. This means that the insect can survive in different climates, making the regulation of its invasiveness harder. They do not, however, survive very well in hot conditions.
Are Spotted Lanternflies Harmful to Pets?
It is claimed by Some that the Spotted lanternfly is detrimental to pets (cats and dogs). Is this valid information? Continue reading to learn more about this situation.
In reality, the Spotted lanternfly is new to the US and it currently being studied, so experts do not know much about the Spotted lanternfly’s effect on organisms.
Despite dogs becoming ill and getting blisters on their paws after consuming some different insects, it is currently undetermined how the lanternfly insect relates to this condition.
There is a period belief that pets perceive the Spotted lanternfly to be bitter. The plants that they feed on is the reasoning of this belief.
Birds do not like to consume insects that are not favorable tasting. The bright colored wings of the flies indicate they would not taste good.
When ingesting the Spotted lanternfly, cats and dogs will typically:
- drool
- vomit
- and lose appetite.
Although all other conditions resulting in these ailments should be ruled out by a veterinarian.
Currently, scholars are teaching dogs to identify the eggs of the Spotted lanternfly by sniffing them out.
So far, the results are favorable with a 95% testing rate. Once the research is concluded, these dogs will ultimately assist in identifying and destroying the eggs before they hatch.
Are Spotted Lanternflies Dangerous to Plants?
When it comes to the Spotted Lanternfly, plants are clearly the most affected.
These insects damage plants by sucking sap from their stems, then secreting a waste product called honeydew, which can lead to fungal infections.
The Tree of Heaven, Ailanthus altissima, is the preferred plant hosts of the Spotted Lanternfly.
In addition, they will inhabit ornamental and fruit-bearing trees, including:
- oak
- apple
- grapes
- berries, etc.
Here, they extract the sap and harm the health of the plant. Over a period of time, the plant that is infested with these insects will begin to die off – and can die if they are extremely heavy.
Because there is sugar in the sap, too much to be digested, Spotted Lanternfly will most often turn this into honeydew.
Honeydew is a sugary liquid, the same one that aphids and some scale insects secrete as well.
It is extremely sticky for one, but it also attracts other stinging insects to the tree – such that you won’t even be able to treat your tree.
In addition to stinging insects, honeydew can also promote the growth of sooty mold.
the type of fungi that causes the mold forms a thick covering of leaves that covers the leaf, therefore preventing the capacity of the plant to photosynthesize its energy (or have any have energy).
So now the tree cannot photosynthesize, and it starts to die off because it does not have the energy to continue to grow and develop.
How Do You Eliminate Spotted Lanternflies?
If you spot Spotted Lanternflies on your property, use the following methods to eliminate them.
- Burn or crush the egg masses as a way to remove them.
- Use herbicides and insecticides to spray on the infested trees to kill the insects on the trees with the insecticide. After the tree dies, remove it.
- If the infestation is small, you can kill the insects one at a time.
- You can use sticky bands and duct tape to trap adults as they crawl up the trees, and place the tape or sticky bands within an arm’s reach of the ground.
- You can hire a pest control service to treat Spotted Lanternfly.
Wrapping Up
While you may not be able to specifically say that Spotted Lanternflies are hazardous, you will certainly feel the impact of their damaging behavior.
For example, if they invade your home, they can create real harm to your trees.
You will spend money to get rid of the pests, and you will also miss the opportunity to sell the damaged tree.
The same could apply to your pets. If your cat or dog ingests these insects, they may vomit, not want to eat, and so on, requiring you to take them to the vet.
Lastly, Spotted Lanternflies are not aesthetically pleasing to look at. Infested trees in your backyard create an unpleasant mess.
These invasive insects can take away all of your time and effort in creating a nice, outdoor visual appeal.