TIFTON — State governments are asking people to be on the lookout for an invasive insect pest called the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). University of Georgia experts say vigilant prevention strategies, early detection and timely interventions can help prevent the disease from spreading to Georgia and elsewhere.
Native to China, India, Vietnam, and parts of East Asia, it is now found in 14 states throughout the eastern United States. The species arrived in Pennsylvania via imported goods shipped from Asia in 2014.
Although they do not bite or sting humans or animals, spotted lanternflies feed on host plants including vines, hardwoods, and ornamental and fruit trees, causing significant economic damage in many horticultural and agricultural industries.
Rebecca Wallace, program coordinator at UGA’s Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, oversees data curation for the EDDMapS database. This free mobile and web app draws from state, local, and private data to track invasive species across the United States. Once all data is processed, it is matched to a single data standard in an integrated database.
Proper identification is important to help with early detection and rapid response, Wallace said, adding that the site provides free resources to help, including an image database and distribution maps.
“Anyone, from anywhere, can report invasive species or pests via the EDMapS app or website,” Wallace said. “The reports are then sent directly to the appropriate expert from a network of certified specialists. Depending on the threat posed by the reported species, specialists respond on Immediately, sometimes on the same day of accessing the application.
Female spotted lanternflies often lay their eggs in wooded areas where they feed. For this reason, Wallace explained, people can inadvertently move the invasive insect to new areas using firewood.
Eggs can also be laid on other flat surfaces, such as trailers, cargo boxes, recreational vehicles, and other vehicles, making them difficult to contain without vigilant surveillance efforts.
After hatching, individual eggs, which are brown and seed-like, can be seen arranged in columns. Small spotted lanternfly nymphs emerge in the spring. In their immature stage, the nymphs are black with white spots on the body and legs. When they reach the final nymph stage, large red spots appear on their bodies.
It is important to note that when adult spotted lanternflies rest on surfaces, their wings are held in a tent-like arrangement behind their backs, so the bright red and yellow coloration that appears in some photographs when the insects’ wings are mounted on the side will not be visible in most cases.
Nymphs feed on a variety of host plants by sucking sap from stems and young leaves. The adults, which emerge in late July, secrete a sticky, sugar-rich, honeydew-like liquid when they eat, which can accumulate on plants and on the ground beneath infected plants, causing sooty mold to form.
Aphids also attract other insects, such as wasps and ants, which can become an additional nuisance.
If egg masses or insects are spotted, Wallace recommends taking a photo and sending the photo to either a local UGA Cooperative Extension agent or the Georgia Forestry Commission and uploading it to the EDMapS database so experts can be notified immediately.
Wallace stressed that residents cannot control spotted lanternflies, as there are no approved or effective pesticides to control the pest. It is important to consult an expert by using one of the resources on the center’s website, as this pest has different manifestations during the different stages of its life.
In partnership with the Georgia Forestry Commission and the Georgia Department of Agriculture, UGA-Tifton’s Forest Health Laboratory has created educational materials for the public about the spotted lanternfly threat available on the Georgia Invasive Species Task Force website.
