Spotted Lanternflies: Why They Are Such a Problem.

Spotted lanternflies (Lycorma delicatula) may look strange and beautiful, but they are one of the most damaging invasive insects to arrive in the United States in recent decades. Native to Asia, they were first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014 and have since spread to at least 19 states and the District of Columbia. Their rapid expansion and ability to cause widespread damage to crops, forests, and ecosystems make them a major environmental and economic concern (1). 

Ecomorphology and Invasiveness

The name spotted lanternfly is misleading, since these insects are not true flies. Instead, they belong to the order Hemiptera “true bugs”, which includes cicadas, aphids, and stink bugs. Like others in this group, lanternflies have specialized piercing–sucking mouthparts that allow them to drill into plant tissues and feed on sap (3).

This feeding apparatus is one of the key reasons for their success as invaders. Unlike many insects that rely on a narrow range of host plants, spotted lanternflies are generalists. They can feed on more than 100 species of plants, from hardwood trees to fruit crops, grapevines, corn, soybeans, and even grasses. Their tolerance of many environments and their insatiable appetite make them highly adaptable. Farmers, especially vineyard owners, are among the hardest hit. Grapevines are a favorite host, and heavy infestations can completely ruin a harvest, leading to millions of dollars in losses each year. Orchards, soybean fields, and even backyard vegetable gardens are also at risk, making this pest more than just a rural problem (1,3). 

Beyond agriculture, spotted lanternflies put stress on our native trees and plants. While they have a strong preference for the invasive Tree of Heaven, they also feed on native hardwoods like maple, walnut, and oak. Repeated feeding weakens these trees, leaving them more vulnerable to disease and other pests. On top of this, their sugary waste, called honeydew, drips onto patios, cars, outdoor furniture, and decks, creating sticky messes that quickly grow black mold. This mold can damage plants, attract wasps, and generally make outdoor spaces unpleasant (1,3). 

Reproduction and Spread

Another trait that makes lanternflies so difficult to control is their reproductive strategy. Each female lays one or two egg masses, each containing 30–60 eggs. The eggs are covered with a mud-like coating that hardens, camouflaging them against nearly any surface. Lanternflies lay eggs on trees, stones, outdoor equipment, cars, and even lumber. This makes accidental human transport one of the most common ways they spread across states. Because the egg masses can survive long transport and harsh winters, the insects can establish themselves quickly in new environments, even thousands of miles away (3). 

Life Cycle and Vulnerabilities

Understanding the lanternfly life cycle is essential for control efforts. After hatching, the insects pass through four immature stages (instars) before reaching adulthood:

• 1st–3rd instars: Small, wingless, black with white spots, resembling ticks or spiders.
  
  

• 4th instar: Red with white dots and black stripes, about ½ inch long.
  
  

• Adult: Winged, capable of flying and feeding heavily on woody plants and vines.
  
  

The early nymph stages are the most vulnerable to chemical and physical control, as they are less mobile and still concentrated on lower plants. Once adults emerge, they are harder to control because they disperse widely and reproduce (3,4)

Image 2: Spotted Lanternfly life cycle diagram (3).

Mechanical Control Methods

One of the most direct ways to fight back against spotted lanternflies is through simple, hands-on methods. These don’t require heavy equipment or complicated tools, just consistency. While each action may feel small, when repeated across many yards and neighborhoods, they add up to real progress.

Scraping Egg Masses
From late fall through early spring, spotted lanternflies leave behind egg masses that look like smudges of dried mud. You’ll often find them on trees, fences, lawn furniture, grills, and even car wheel wells. Each cluster can contain 30–60 eggs, so scraping just a few can stop hundreds from hatching. A simple scraper card or putty knife works well just make sure to drop the eggs into a bag filled with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer to kill them (3,4,5).

Tree Traps
In the spring, the young nymphs crawl upward to feed. Sticky bands or circle traps wrapped around tree trunks can catch large numbers before they ever reach the leaves. Newer mesh-style traps are especially good because they don’t pose as much risk to birds or pollinators. A few traps on favored trees can noticeably reduce the local population in your yard (4,5).

Host Tree Management
The invasive “Tree of Heaven” (Ailanthus altissima) is a magnet for lanternflies. If you have one on your property, removing it can go a long way in reducing their numbers. Some homeowners may choose to leave one or two trees and treat them with controls to act as “trap trees,” but even just cutting back volunteers around fences, driveways, or woodlots will help (4,5).

Image 3: Image depicting the foliage of the Tree of Heaven (6). 

Simple Smashing
It may feel silly, but stomping or swatting adults when you see them really does help. Every single insect eliminated is one less reproducing adult come fall.

Community Awareness
Since egg masses cling to almost anything, lanternflies often spread because we unknowingly move them. Checking outdoor furniture, vehicles, trailers, and firewood before moving them even just across town makes a big difference. Many states now have quarantine zones, so following those rules helps protect new areas from infestation.

Chemical Control Methods

While many homeowners can keep populations down with mechanical methods, sometimes infestations are too heavy for hand-scraping or trapping alone. That’s where chemical control may be considered, but it should be used thoughtfully and carefully.

Contact Sprays
For homeowners, insecticidal soaps or contact sprays can provide short-term relief by killing lanternflies on contact. These products are widely available at garden centers and can be useful for treating small trees, shrubs, or patios where lanternflies gather. The limitation is that once the spray dries, it no longer works, so repeat treatments are usually necessary (4,5).

Systemic Treatments
Systemic insecticides are absorbed by plants and can provide longer-lasting protection, but these are not something every homeowner should apply casually. Some products require a licensed professional to use safely, especially when it comes to trunk injections or soil drenches. If you are considering this route, it’s best to consult a certified applicator who can make sure applications are done responsibly and at the right time of year (4,5).

Use Chemicals Wisely
Timing matters. Lanternflies are easier to control when they are young nymphs in late spring or early summer. By the time they’re adults, they’re harder to kill and spread out more widely. Always read the label carefully, avoid spraying when pollinators are active, and never treat plants that are in bloom. Overuse of chemicals can harm beneficial insects, pets, and the local environment, so chemicals should be the last step after other methods have been tried (4,5).

Supporting Natural Predators as a Method of Control

Recent research suggests that we are finally receiving help from nature in the fight against spotted lanternflies. While these insects were introduced without their natural enemies from Asia, it hasn’t taken long for birds, hornets, mantises, and even fungi to recognize them as a new food source. I have even seen this in my own backyard where bald-faced hornets were carrying them off, leaving behind nothing but wings and legs beneath their nest. Seeing this firsthand gives me hope because it shows that nature is already beginning to respond on its own terms (5).

That being said, it will likely be many years before predator populations can make a noticeable dent in the overall lanternfly numbers. These insects reproduce so quickly and spread so easily that natural predators alone cannot keep them in check right away. Still, it is absolutely essential that we do our part to protect and support the species that prey upon them.

Why Natural Predators Matter

When we encourage the birds, insects, and even fungi that attack lanternflies, we are building long-term, sustainable control. Unlike pesticides, which only offer short-term results and often harm beneficial species, predators are self-sustaining once established. A healthy predator population will return year after year, and while it may not wipe lanternflies out completely, it can steadily suppress their numbers (5).

Image 4: Yellow Jacket Preying upon a Spotted Lanternfly. 

Here is a photo I captured in my own backyard of a yellow jacket preying on a Spotted Lanternfly. I found it fascinating to witness such a clear, firsthand example of how natural predators are already stepping in to play their part in the ecosystem. For this same reason, we’ve chosen to leave up a bald-faced hornet nest nearby. The female hornets fly out daily, patrolling the foliage throughout the yard, especially around our grapevines, to pick off straggling lanternflies. Watching how efficiently they cover ground and how effectively they take down these pests has been incredible. It’s a reminder that nature often provides its own solutions if we allow the right conditions for balance to return.

Ways We Can Support Predators in Our Own Backyards

One of the best ways to help is by simply giving predators the environment they need to thrive.

Planting Native Perennial Gardens
Native flowering plants provide nectar for hornets, wasps, and other beneficial insects. They also create habitat for pollinators and support the wider food web. A yard filled with native flowers is more than just attractive; it's a living resource for the very insects that prey on spotted lanternflies.

Encouraging Birds
Birds like cardinals, catbirds, and woodpeckers are already known to feed on lanternflies. We can support them by planting trees and shrubs that offer cover and food, adding birdhouses for nesting, and avoiding unnecessary pesticide use. Even something as simple as putting up a birdhouse or leaving a tree or two in the yard can provide shelter for these natural predators.

Leaving Space for Insects and Small Predators
Instead of a perfectly clean yard, allowing some brush piles, dead wood, or unmown patches of grass can give spiders, assassin bugs, and other hunters a place to hide and hunt. These small adjustments may seem minor, but they add up to real changes in the local ecology.

Protecting Beneficial Insects from Harm
One of the biggest mistakes we can make is using broad-spectrum insecticides that kill everything, good and bad. Spraying without care eliminates predators as well as pests. By targeting sprays only when absolutely necessary, and by using alternative methods first, we give natural enemies the chance to build their populations (5).

Final Thoughts

We may not see dramatic results overnight, but every action we take to support predator species moves us in the right direction. By making simple changes in our own yards planting native flowers, providing bird habitat, and reducing unnecessary pesticide use we create safe havens for the insects, birds, and other wildlife that are already helping to keep spotted lanternflies in check.

This effort goes beyond just fighting one pest. It’s about restoring balance to our local ecosystems. The healthier and more diverse our landscapes become, the better equipped they are to resist invasives of all kinds. Even the smallest actions, when multiplied across many households, add up to real change.

I hope this article has offered some insight into the fascinating but destructive nature of spotted lanternflies and, more importantly, shown practical ways you can help manage them right at home. It’s on us as a community to take part in the solution. Together, through small but meaningful steps, we can reduce their impact and protect the environments we depend on.

Work Cited 

1. U.S.D.A. (n.d.). Spotted lanternfly. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-pests-diseases/slf#:~:text=Current%20Status,if%20new%20infestations%20are%20detected 

2. Ahrens, J. (2024, July 26). Grape growers, beware: The invasive spotted lanternfly has now spread to all of CT. Connecticut Public. https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2024-07-25/spotted-lanternfly-connecticut-grapes-crops  

3. Cornell CALS. (n.d.). Spotted lanternfly biology and Lifecycle. CALS. https://cals.cornell.edu/integrated-pest-management/outreach-education/whats-bugging-you/spotted-lanternfly/spotted-lanternfly-biology-and-lifecycle#:~:text=Spotted%20lanternflies%20are%20planthoppers%20in,bugs%2C%20aphids%2C%20and%20leafhoppers   

4. Penn State Extension. (n.d.). Spotted lanternfly management guide. https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly-management-guide

5. Duke, A. (n.d.). Natural insect predators may serve as allies in spotted lanternfly battle.    Penn State University. https://www.psu.edu/news/agricultural-sciences/story/natural-insect-predators-may-serve-allies-spotted-lanternfly-battle 

6. The Nature Conservancy. (n.d.). Journey with nature: Tree of heaven. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/indiana/stories-in-indiana/journey-with-nature--tree-of-heaven/