Spotted Lanternfly
Insect Identification
Images
Spotted Lanternfly Nymph (1st - 3rd Instar)
Spotted Lanternfly Nymph (4th Instar)
Spotted Lanternfly Adult
Damage
While the spotted lanternfly has become an issue in the Southeastern Pennsylvania area, there is no evidence it has become a pest to the plants grown in the gardens. Seeing the insect on a plant doesn’t mean it is actively feeding. And even if it is actively feeding, it is unlikely to be doing any significant damage to the plant. If you see a spotted lanternfly actively feeding on your plants, please let us know.
Affected Plants
The spotted lanternfly has not been shown to feed on plants grown at Rose Tree Community Garden.
Management
Management of the spotted lanternfly in the Rose Tree Gardens is not necessary. You should refrain from using insecticides on spotted lanternflies and only resort to physical removal. These recommendations apply only to the Rose Tree Community Garden.
Row covers
- Row covers are specially designed fabrics that let light and water through but keep insects out. They can be placed directly on top of plants as well as suspended above them.
Physical removal
- Due to the ongoing issue with the spotted lanternfly’s rapid spread through the area, it is good practice to destroy them upon site.
- While sticky traps are an effective control for the lanternfly to prevent damage to host plants, these host plants are not grown in Rose Tree Gardens. Therefore sticky traps should not be installed in the gardens.
- If their egg masses are found on plants and fencing material, they should be scraped off.
Insecticides
- Only contact insecticides such as those listed below have been shown to be effective against the spotted lanternfly. They should only be applied to large numbers of insects in a concentrated area. For low numbers of lanternflies, physical removal should be used.
- NOTE: Off-label use of any insecticide to control the spotted lanternfly may violate federal law. This site does not encourage the off-label use of an insecticide to control the spotted lanternfly.