Mayor's Weekly Message: The Spotted Lanternfly Invasion
By now we are all familiar with another obtrusive uninvited pest. The spotted lanternfly (SLF) is one of the most invasive pests that we have seen. Their gluttonous appetite feeds on the life-giving sap of many plants and trees. The piercing-sucking mouth will infiltrate the outer bark and walls of trees, grapevines and of course the softer outer layer of plants. The feeding damage severely stresses the trees and plants decreasing their health and their potential death.
As the SLF feeds, their digestive system excretes honeydew which is a sugary substance that can attract wasps, bees and other insects. The honeydew builds up and promotes the growth of sooty mold (fungi) which can cover plants, outdoor furniture, forest floors, cars and anything else below their feeding area.
Already, many counties in Pennsylvania are under a state-imposed quarantine in an effort to slow the spread (sounds familiar?).
Quarantine compliance in the Commonwealth requires all businesses and organizations within the Quarantine zone to obtain permits issued by the PDA (Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture). New Jersey may soon follow.
Fruits and vegetables are at serious risk for the agricultural economy in more and more states.
So far the New Jersey berry crops including cranberry and other staples have not been affected. It appears that it is just a matter of time before we may need to take serious protective measures. The best thing is to squish them when you see them. They are very quick moving. Allowing them to fly away will mean that they will destroy other trees and plants.
SLF Egg Masses
SLF egg masses are produced in late summer and well into the early winter. The majority of egg masses occur in October. Unfortunately these egg masses survive winter and ultimately hatch into SLF nymphs in early spring. Each egg mass contains an average of 30-50 eggs .An individual female may produce at least 2 egg masses. Since the mature SLF is very quick and almost defies an easy termination it is important to know at this point in their life cycle is the only stage that they are stationary and an easy target for destruction.
Identifying Egg Masses
Despite the variation in color, typically the adult SLF are brown/grey and are usually 1.5 inches long. All egg masses contain rows of small eggs approximately the size of a sharpened pencil. The rows may vary in length within the same egg mass. The color of the eggs may vary from yellow to brown. Upon hatching, the female will cover the eggs with a substance to allow them to survive the winter. In addition this substance also protects them from predators. The substance is initially white and glossy. However within a few hours, the substance becomes dull and then dries to a darker grey/brown color. It is interesting to note that if you find egg masses which are not covered, it is because the female SLF has been disturbed or interrupted by humans or other factors. This suggests that there will be a much lower hatch rate.
Egg mass cases that were laid 2 years ago can still be found on trees and other structures. The easiest way to identify a fresh egg mass or an old one is to check for the coating/covering on top of the egg mass and also check for the presence of emergent holes. The covering fades with time and will often disappear altogether. Additionally, each egg mass is equipped with a top” hatch door” that nymphs use to escape out in the spring. If you see these “hatch door” with perfectly oval holes means that the eggs have already hatched from it.
You do not have to venture far to see how ubiquitous they are. Please be aware that the egg masses settle on a flat surface and should be easy to identify. By making an extra effort to eliminate them will save many of our trees, plants and crops. After perusing this article, I hope that you can still enjoy your favorite omelette. Enjoy this beautiful weather.
Mayor John L. Madden