Invasive insect population increases

SANDUSKY — An invasive insect is being spotted more often this year compared to last year. The spotted lanternfly is a type of planthopper insect from Asia. It's believed the insect arrived as egg masses on a stone shipment from China. The first infestation was found in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has since spread to surrounding areas like Ohio. It's even in Erie County. These insects are considered good hitchhikers because they have been transported by train cars, trucks and cars, said Ohio State University extension educator Thomas deHaas. Based on the Department of Agriculture guidelines, Erie County is considered to have an infestation of spotted lanternflies. People in the area have been seeing more of them this year. Don't be alarmed if you see the bug, deHaas said. It does not bite or sting. Adult-spotted lanternflies are commonly seen starting in late July through fall. They die during the winter. Adults have tan wings with a hue of pink along with black spots. They're about an inch in length. The adult females will start to lay egg masses in late September until freeze. Egg masses remain on trees and other hard objects — like trash containers, vehicles or outdoor furniture — until they hatch during the spring. Spotted lanternfly nymphs will be seen in late April through mid-October. They start out with a black body with white spots and eventually change to a red and black body with white spots as they get older. The spotted lanternfly will feed on sap from more than 70 different plants. The tree-of-heaven, an invasive plant, is one of the favored hosts. This type of tree can often be found along railroad tracks. And the insects also like to feed on grapevines and other fruit trees, which can cause the plants to die. "The cold hardiness of the grapes and other fruit crops could be compromised by the feeding of spotted lanternfly," deHaas said. As spotted lanternflies feed, they excrete honeydew, which is a sugary, sticky substance that can attract other insects like bees and ants. A buildup of the honeydew can result in sooty mold — it can also stain things like patios and cars. To control spotted lanternflies on a property, people can use physical means or insecticides. As far as physical control to avoid harming pollinators, spotted lanternfly egg masses can be scrapped and put into soapy water or oil to kill the eggs. Egg masses look like putty on a tree, branch or other objects. People can also smash spotted lanternfly nymphs and adults. Birds don't really eat spotted lanternflies because tree-of-heaven has nasty-tasting sap, so it makes the insect taste bad, deHaas said. "It's a bug that's not going to go away," deHaas said. "There are no natural predators. An equilibrium can be established eventually." People can decide how they want to manage the insect if they find it on their property. Visit agri.ohio.gov/divisions/plant-health/forms/slf-bmp for more specific recommendations about management and other information.