| YOUNG SPOTTED LANTERNFLY |
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| ADULT SPOTTED LANTERNFLY |
SPOTTED LANTERNLFY IS AN INVASIVE INSECT FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA THAT ARRIVED IN BERKS COUNTY IN 2014. THE PRIMARY
FOOD SOURCE FOR THE THIS INSECT IS THE AILANTHUS TREE WHICH IS ALSO AN INVASIVE SPECIES.
| AILANTHUS TREE |
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THESE ARE PHOTOS OF AILANTHUS TREES. THEY GROW PROLIFICALLY
IN DISTURBED AREAS , RIGHT OF WAYS AND HIGHWAY CORRIDORS. TO IDENTIFY THEM , LOOK FOR THE NOTCH AT THE BASE OF EACH LEAFLET.
THE LEAVES ALSO HAVE A STRONG UNPLEASANT ODOR. DO NOT CONFUSE AILANTHUS WITH NATIVE SUMAC OR WALNUT
TREES. THE LEAVES ARE SIMILAR.
THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY HAS NO KNOWN NATURAL PREDATORS IN
THE US. IT CAN FEED ON A VARIETY OF OUR NATIVE TREES. THEY CAN JUMP AND FLY A GOOD DISTANC AS ADULTS. THE
REASON THESE INSECTS ARE SO DAMAGING IS THIS: WHILE THEY ARE UP IN THE TREES FEEDING , THEY ARE DROPPING A STICKY
WASTE ON EVERYTHING BELOW. THIS STICKY SUBSTANCE ATTRACTS SOMETHING CALLED SOOTY MOLD ,TURNING LEAVES AND PLANTS BLACK.
THIS WILL EVENTUALLY KILL THESE PLANTS.
THE DAMAGE TO GRAPEVINES , FRUIT TREES AND LUMBER TREES
IN PA COULD BE SUBSTANTIAL. YOUR OWN LANDSCAPING PLANTS AND TREES COULD SUFFER FROM THIS ALSO. YOU CAN HELP BY
KILLING ANY SPOTTED LANTERNFLIES YOU SEE, REMOVING EGG CASES AND REMOVING ANY AILANTHUS TREES YOU HAVE ON YOUR PROPERTY. IF
YOU TAKE DOWN AN AILANTHUS TREE, THE STUMP MUST BE TREATED WITH AN HERBICIDE, OR IT WILL RESPROUT. EGG CASES CAN BE FOUND
ON ANY SMOOTH SURFACE INCLUDING LAWN EQUIPMENT , ROCKS, TABLES, ETC. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO THE PA DEPT OF AGRICULTURE
WEBSITE BELOW.
WWW.AGRICULTURE.STATE.PA.US
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