Struggling with Lanternflies? Here’s how to get rid of them.
The Spotted Lanternfly is a destructive insect that is spreading across several counties in New Jersey, including Gloucester.
The spotted lanternfly causes serious damage including oozing sap, wilting, leaf curling and dieback in trees, vines, crops and many other types of plants. In addition to plant damage, when spotted lanternflies feed, they excrete a sugary substance, called honeydew, that encourages the growth of black sooty mold.
“Now in mid-summer, the lanternflies are now in the nymph stage. They are not yet full sized which means it’s the time to act,” said Director Robert M. Damminger. “These insects have the potential to be incredibly devastating to farmers, gardeners and residents in general.”
If you’re noticing lanternflies on your trees, you can protect the trees with a sticky tree band. The band features an aggressive adhesive that traps lanternflies as they move along the tree trunk.
An example of banding to trap the flies.
You can use spotted lanternfly spray, also known as a contact insecticide. The insecticide will kill the insect when sprayed directly on it. The best use case for an insecticide spray is when you discover a group of spotted lanternflies clustered together on your tree and you can spray them at once.
If lanternflies are spread across your yard, a systemic insecticide is the proper spotted lanternfly treatment. Contacting a professional arborist is the best route, as they will treat the trunk or soil by injection.
“Help Gloucester County beat the bug! Taking precautions can help reduce populations in the future,” said Director Damminger.
If you see lanternflies, stomp on them to destroy the bug and reduce further spread or populating.
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture recently updated its pest and Spotted Lanternfly pages with new material for homeowners and businesses at www.badbug.nj.gov.
Gloucester County is not required to report sightings to the NJDA. If you are outside of Gloucester County and would like to report a sighting, use the reporting tool or call 833-4BADBUG (833-422-3284). For other questions, email the NJDA at SLF-plantindustry@ag.nj.gov.
Call the Certified Gardener Helpline for assistance or more questions856-307-6464.
