At NYC Extermination, we are a professional spotted lanternfly exterminator with over 25 years of experience in the pest control industry. In 2014, people in Pennsylvania came across the spotted lanternfly for the first time, an invasive species that hitchhiked from Asia to the United States, spreading to New York in 2020. These pests are more than a nuisance; they pose a significant risk to America’s fruit trees, lumber, and crops.
NYC EXTERMINATION: YOUR LOCAL SPOTTED LANTERNFLY EXTERMINATOR
In this post, the experts from NYC Extermination will explain the spotted lanternfly, including basic information, life stages, identification, and how to stop this invasive pest from spreading. If you ever see a spotted lanternfly or egg masses on your property, getting rid of them as quickly as possible is imperative. We can help.
You can contact us now by calling (347) 988-2315 to request a spotted lanternfly exterminator from our team. We offer residential and commercial services, and we only use EPA-approved treatment methods to prevent spotted lanternflies from spreading further throughout New York and the U.S.
HOW TO IDENTIFY SPOTTED LANTERNFLY EGG MASSES, NYMPHS, AND ADULTS
Egg Masses
You can find spotted lanternfly eggs on hard surfaces, including trees, plants, or outdoor items on your property. The female typically covers her egg masses with a sticky substance, dries, cracks, and looks like a blotch of mud.
Nymphs
The early-stage nymph is a small, wingless insect with a black body and white spots. The late-stage nymph is larger and has a black-and-red body with white spots. They are visible from October to early spring, around April.
Adults
Spotted lanternflies only grow wings once they reach the adult stage and are about one inch long. At rest, mature spotted lanternflies tent their wings over their back and are a grayish tan with black spots. Their body is yellow with fat black bands. In flight, the wings spread open and are gray, black, and white with red patches.
POTTED LANTERNFLIES: BASIC INFORMATION
The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a planthopper that spreads by hitchhiking. The spotted lanternfly adults can fly, but only short distances.
These insects almost look like moths but are closely related to aphids, cicadas, and stink bugs. Spotted lanternflies are not stinging insects, and they do not bite humans.
The spotted lanternfly adult has piercing mouth parts to suck the sap from plants, causing significant damage and destruction. After feeding on a tree or plant, it leaves behind a sticky secretion that resembles black sooty mold.
Experts have observed feeding on over 70 plants and trees, including crops and ornamental plants. However, their favorite host is the tree of heaven.
Life Cycle of Spotted Lanternflies
The spotted lanternfly’s life cycle occurs in stages. First, the females lay egg masses in rows in September. Then, the eggs hatch in the spring, containing about 30 to 50 young. During this nymph stage, the young feed voraciously on trees and other plants.
Spotted lanternfly egg masses are the only life cycle stage that can survive through the winter. Spotted lanternfly treatment is most effective during the egg stage. The nymphs and adults are much harder to control.
Where Is the Spotted Lanternfly Population Found?
Spotted lanternfly treatment is complex because these pests have already spread extensively. You can find them on specific tree and plant species in several states, including:
- New York
- Connecticut
- Maryland
- Indiana
- Delaware
- North Carolina
- Michigan
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Ohio
- West Virginia
- Virginia
- Rhode Island
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO KILL SPOTTED LANTERNFLIES?
The surest way to kill these pests is by hiring an experienced spotted lanternfly exterminator from the NYC Extermination team.
After we inspect your property, we will work closely with you to determine the best-spotted lanternfly control method for your circumstances. However, there are a few ways you can take on spotted lanternfly control by yourself:
1. Squish Them and Scrape Egg Masses
The most effective method of spotted lanternfly treatment is to squish the bugs. Squishing spotted lanternflies also causes the least harm to the environment. Check the infested area or other locations where you can see spotted lanternfly damage, and use a hard-edged tool to scrape away the eggs.
2. Use a Shop Vac or Bottle
You can suck up spotted lanternflies with a shop vac or by holding a bottle underneath them and scraping them in. Then, use rubbing alcohol or a combination of Dawn dish soap and water to kill them.
3. Use Insecticide
The PA Department of Agriculture has discovered the following soaps will work as a tree trunk spray and form of pest control against spotted lanternflies:
- Safer Insect-Killing Soap
- Concern Insect Killing Soap C
- Ortho Elementals Insecticidal Soap
4. Wrap the Tree in Sticky Tape
If you have a tree of heaven or another species with an active infestation, wrap wide strips of sticky paper or duct tape around the trunk. Then, spray the bugs off the tree with water or a leaf blower. When they climb back up, they will get stuck on the trunk. You can then squish them or remove the sticky tape from the tree and burn it.
TRUST NYC EXTERMINATION FOR ALL YOUR SPOTTED LANTERNFLY AND PEST CONTROL NEEDS
You can prevent spotted lanternflies by using the above tips or with help from a professional exterminator. At NYC Extermination, we employ several methods of spotted lanternfly treatment and prevention, all of which are effective and safe for the environment.
Remember, check for egg masses on trees or anything you store outdoors, like patio furniture or wood piles. Removing the eggs is a much easier and more effective treatment than killing mature spotted lanternflies.
If you suspect or positively confirm an active infestation at your home, do not wait. Call NYC Extermination at (347) 988-2315 and book a service call with an experienced and professional spotted lanternfly exterminator.
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