If you see a lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), get rid of it right away. Originally from China, it was first found in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014. Since then, it has spread and caused a lot of damage to plants and the environment. Lanternflies feed on plant sap, weakening the plants and causing sticky honeydew that leads to harmful sooty mold.
Lanternflies are easy to spot. Adults are about an inch long with gray wings that have black spots and red and black underwings. Nymphs are black with white spots and turn red before they become adults. They have needle-like mouths to pierce plants and suck out the sap, which weakens the plant.
If you see a lanternfly, it’s recommended to kill it. You can squash the adults and nymphs. Destroying egg masses, which look like gray mud smears, is also important. Scrape them into a bag with alcohol or hand sanitizer to kill the eggs.
Taking action against lanternflies is important to protect our plants and environment. If you see one, remember the damage they cause and act to help keep our ecosystems healthy.