More information can be found at Penn State Extension's website or by calling their hotline at 1-88. Residents are still asked to report sightings of the lanternfly in their communities. She recommends using horticultural oil or insecticidal soap to spray to keep them away. The spotted lanternfly doesn’t bite or damage property like some other invasive species, and unlike stink bugs, Feather said they likely wouldn’t want to come into homes for the winter. “When a non-native insect like this is introduced, the birds aren’t sure they’re going to eat them,” she said. But Feather said some birds might need more convincing. Some people have reported chickens, praying mantises and spiders chowing down on the bug. Researchers are still discovering which species eat the spotted lanternfly. “If there’s a lot of feeding going on on a tree, something else could come along like root rot disease that would make the tree susceptible.” Learn how to identify the lanternfly and what they’re such a threat. The lanternfly is harmful to many important plants and trees. “We think of them as plant stressors,” Feather said. The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect that first appeared in our area in 2014. That’s troubling for plant life, but the insects' sticky, sappy excrement (which Feather said is “politely called honeydew”) can also do damage. Feather said this diet is very high in carbohydrates but not high in protein, so the lanternflies must almost feed continuously. What to know about tick, Lyme season following a mild winterĪdult lanternflies can put their piercing, sucking mouthparts through the bark of trees, stealing nutrients and weakening the tree’s vascular system.Home gardeners prepare: the invasive spotted lanternflies are returning.EPA says soil in East Palestine looks 'really good,' but some see a disconnect with their health.More than one-third of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, including Allegheny, have been placed under quarantine in an effort to stop the spread. The lanternfly likely arrived on a shipping container from Asia and has traveled on the bottom of trains, vehicles and outdoor equipment like trampolines. “We live with Japanese beetles and spongy moths and brown marmorated stink bugs, other accidentally introduced species. “Much like we’re going to be living with COVID, we’re going to be living with the spotted lanternfly,” she said. While people are encouraged to scrape and kill the invasive bug and its eggs, Feather said it’s unrealistic to think they’ll be eradicated. “You don’t want to just scrape them down on the ground because they’ll go ahead and hatch.” But they do pose a serious risk to agriculture. “We can do things like, when they’re within reach, scraping those egg masses into a container that has rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer in it,” Feather said. These insects are not dangerous to humans or pets they dont bite or sting, and they arent venomous. According to Feather’s colleagues in eastern Pennsylvania, where the lanternfly infestation has gotten particularly bad, rusty metal appears to be a favorite location for egg masses.
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