There are three types of insecticides that can be used to kill spotted lanternflies. The insecticides are contact, systemic, and hybrid.
Each type of insecticide functions differently, and is effective on a life stage of the insect.
For example, systemic insecticide works on the adult spotted lanternfly after the chemical has been sprayed into the bark of the plant host. After the insect feeds on the sap of the plant, it dies.
There are also insecticides classified according to the part of the host plant that they are sprayed on.
In this case, we have the foliar nymph spray, groomed bark trunk spray and foliar adult spry which are effective on nymphs, young adults and adults respectively.
Each of the insecticides is sprayed at a specific time in the insect’s life cycle.
Systemic Insecticide for Spotted Lanternfly
Systemic insecticides offer one of the best methods of control for insect pests.
The insecticide is applied to the plant through spraying or injecting into the plant; the plant will then translocate the active ingredient through the parts of the plant.
When the spotted lanternfly nymph or adult feeds on any part of the plant it takes in the systemic insecticide and dies.
Does the systemic insecticide hurt plant health? It does not. The active ingredients target insects and are harmful to only these.
Commonly used active ingredients in systemic insecticides include imidacloprid and dinotefuran.
This insecticide kills:
- the eggs
- nymphs
- and adults of the spotted lanternfly
Timing of application is important! The systemic insecticide is most effective in the spring and summer when the insect is in the nymph and young adult stages.
How Do You Apply Systemic Insecticide?
There are several ways of applying systemic insecticides to infested plants.
These include the following.
Foliar Application
This is the point at which you will spray the insecticide onto the leaves of the host plant, which takes up the chemical, and distribution to other parts of the host plant takes place.
Soil Drenching
When using the soil drenching method, you simply pour the insecticide at the tree’s base.
The plant root absorbs the chemical just like they would any of their regular soil nutrients, and then delivers the chemical to other parts of the plant.
The spotted lantern fly will then eat from the plant, and the insecticide will kill it.
Trunk or Branch Injection
You can also apply the insecticide into the trunk or branch of a tree with a commercial applicator, so the plant moves the active ingredient to all parts of the plant.
The process involves making evenly spaced injection points at the base of the trunk or branch, then preparing the insecticide concentrate as directed and injecting the chemical into the plant through the injection points.
This is one of the most cost-efficient application methods of systemic insecticide because you do not have runoff, and you do not have any chemicals being blown away to the wind.
It is also a great option for situations where soil drenching is not a reasonable option.
Superficial Application
With this approach, the insecticide – nearly always in a pasty formulation – is applied to the exterior of the tree, ideally the trunk or bark area.
The chemical is absorbed by the plant cells and moves to most areas of the plant, including the leaves, flowers and fruit.
When the Spotted Lanternfly feeds on the sap, the pest is killed.
Contact Insecticide for Spotted Lanternfly
A contact insecticide is a substance that kills an insect pest through direct contact.
These chemical agents are deadly and can often kill helpful insects in the ecosystem.
For this reason, arborists and land managers recommend only using this tactic after all other options have been considered.
The active ingredients for most insecticides include bifenthrin and carbaryl. It is best used when the spotted lanternfly is in its adult life stage.
Most contact insecticides will be either concentrations in liquid form or ready-to-use in the form of a spray or fogger.
For the concentrate, you will carefully dilute the contents according to the instructions on the label to avoid contamination.
You will pour that dilute into the spray bottle or pump, and spray the plant.
For the “ready-to-use”, you simply buy from your local agro chem dealer and spray your plant.
As a practical use electronic example of contact insecticide that kills the spotted lanternfly, consider Sevin Concentrate and Sevin ready to use.
Hybrid Insecticide for Spotted Lanternfly
The hybrid insecticide is a blend of systemic and contact insecticide.
It will kill some of the insects immediately upon contact.
Those that do not die immediately will eventually die because the plant will absorb the chemical and move it through the sap.
Hybrid insecticide is typically applied at the base of the trunk of the tree.
Unlike the contact insecticides that are effective for 30 days, hybrid insecticide will remain effective for 60 days.
Other Methods of Classifying Insecticides Against The Spotted Lanternfly
Insecticides that eliminate the spotted lanternfly can also be categorized based on which part of the plant you apply them to.
Using this categorization, we have three types of insecticide:
Foliar Nymph Sprays
This is an insecticide that you spray on the leaves, trunk of the tree, or branches of the tree to kill the nymph stage of the spotted lanternfly.
It is best applied from May-July when the egg masses are hatching into nymphs.
As a result: This spray is a contact insecticide, so it kills destructive insects if it comes in contact during a thirty day period after application.
Basal Trunk Sprays
This product is a spray applied to the tree trunk’s base. It’s mostly a hybrid insecticide that kills some of the nymphs immediately.
For all other bigger nymphs and adults that do not die immediately when using this product, the insecticide is absorbed by the plant and transported to the parts of the plant above the spray and any other parts of the plant, such as leaves, fruit and flowers.
When spotted lanternflies suck the sap of the plant, they also consume the active ingredient. This inactive ingredient does the same job as any other toxic product – it kills the insects slowly.
The basal trunk spray lasts about sixty days against any nymphs or adults that feed on the plant with the active based ingredient during the effective period.
The optimal time to use to this basal trunk spray is from July to September.
Foliar Adult Spray
Adult foliar applications target adult spotted lanternfly adults found on the leaves of woody fruit crops, woody ornamentals, vines, and pine trees.
The insecticide is primarily Bifenthrin, which kills adults when they come in contact with it, while climbing the tree.
This insecticide can be used as a foliar application when adults are mature, generally in late September through the end of November.
Guidelines On Using Insecticides to Kill Spotted Lanternflies
Insecticides are engineered specifically to affect the pest insects that damage plants, causing poor yield and even spreading disease.
However, while the insecticide must eliminate the insect, there are important guidelines to follow.
Using too much insecticide can either be environmentally unsafe for the surrounding environment and/or cause insects to become resistant to the insecticide.
Similarly, using too little insecticide will not yield the desired results and hence will not solve your pest dilemma.
The following are critical guidelines when using insecticides on spotted lanternflies.
Read the Insecticide Label Carefully
Make sure you check the label of the insecticide container. It will tell you the active ingredient in the insecticide, the application method (spray, drench, etc.), whether it must be diluted or not, and the pre-harvest timing for edibles (vegetables and fruits).
Key Point: Care must be taken when applying insecticides to edibles such as fruit and vegetables. Always follow the instruction label concerning time, the way the product should be reapplied, and when the product can be harvested or consumed after application.
Don’t Deviate from the Instructions Given
You should not stray from the manufacturer’s application instructions.
You should follow the instructions in the letter to protect yourself and the environment.
Following the instructions maximizes the efficiency of the insecticide.
Wear Protective Gear
A general rule regarding pest control agents is to always wear personal protective equipment when making applications.
Regardless if you’re injecting the insecticide into the trunk, soil, or spraying it on the leaves, use personal protective equipment including an overall, gloves, a face shield or goggles.
Choose the Right Insecticide
The kind of insecticide you choose will depend on several things as well, but mainly your target stage of the spotted lanternfly (nymph or adult) and which plants you are trying to save.
For example – A systemic insecticide is the best option for ornamental plants in order to maintain appearance and beauty.
A hybrid insecticide would make the most sense if you are targeting both nymphs and adult spotted lanternflies.
When Is The Best Time to Effectively Control The Spotted Lanternfly?
In general, the optimal time to effectively control spotted lanternflies is when they are actively seeking a tree of heaven to attack.
The tree of heaven, also known as Ailanthus altissima is an exotic tree from Asia.
Adult spotted lanternflies will infest the tree of heaven when they are at the peak of their lives, feeding on the sap of the tree.
Using the spray insecticide at these times will be the best way to reduce these destructive pests.
You can cut the host trees as well, but you will need to follow your state law in making cuts.
When you do cut down, make sure to leave out a trap tree, preferably males, to use to entice adult spotted lanternflies in for sap feeding.
The male is preferred to the female so that for the female can produce seeds that will restock the trees in the area.
Using the tree of heaven to eliminate the pest will also minimize the unintended harm to the good insects, because few insects are feeding on the tree.
Wrapping Up
If your goal is to eliminate spotted lanternflies, there are three options to consider for insecticides, either systemic, contact or hybrid.
Systemic insecticides will travel into the plant so that when the lanternflies suck on the sap, they kills them overtime.
Contact insecticides are instantaneously deadly in that there is no waiting, they die immediately upon contact. Hybrid insecticides are a combination of systemic and contact insecticides.
In general, the best time to kill the spotted lanternfly is while the adults are on a tree of heaven.