WHO’S READY TO KILL SOME BUGS?
Recently, the Richmond area has recorded its first sighting of the dreaded Spotted Lanternfly. The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive insect native to China and Vietnam that experts say threatens natural ecosystems and agriculture. SLF often congregate in huge numbers on the trucks of trees in the evening. It feeds on tree sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts. It will feed on many different fruit, ornamental, and landscape trees and crops. In addition, the SLF produces large amounts of sticky honeydew, which can coat patios, decks, vehicles, outdoor furniture, and other surfaces. Honeydew often leads to the growth of black sooty mold, creating an additional nuisance for all of us.
TREE OF HEAVEN – SPOTTED LANTERNFLY’S PREFERRED HOST
One of SLF’s preferred hosts is the TREE OF HEAVEN (Allanthus altissima). Tree of Heaven is also considered invasive and can be found growing along roadsides and woodland areas. Although Tree of Heaven has a nice name, it is not a good plant to have growing. It is very invasive and is harmful to our native plants. You can find Tree of Heaven growing everywhere along the roadsides, in wooded areas, etc. Thinking back to when I first moved to Richmond I lived on the second floor of a apartment building on Sheppard Street in the Fan District. I had a Tree of Heaven tree growing out of crack in the asphalt. At the time I admired the tree. One of the best ways to help slow the spread of SLF is to remove all the Tree of Heaven on your property.
CONTROLLING SPOTTED LANTERNFLY
The Spotted Lanternfly was first detected in 2014 in Pennsylvania. They are great hitchhikers to expand their range by laying eggs on nursery stock, autos, train cars, campers, boats, and planes. We here at the greenhouse are now inspecting all incoming merchandise.
Fortunately, the SLF do not bite or sting. They don’t harm people or pets. If you find them – KILL THEM!!!! Richmond residents are encouraged to inspect their property for SLF and its egg masses. Nymphs change dramatically in appearance as they develop. While the large, brightly colored adult stage is the most recognizable, younger nymph stages can be easier to overlook and are important to identify early. If you do find them on your plants then a LIQUID SEVIN spray is a great control product to use.
BE A GOOD CITIZEN – IF YOU SEE ‘EM / SQUASH ‘EM! And, I would recommend that you contact a local arborist for assistance with identification and management recommendations. Most importantly, contact your local Department of Agriculture and your local extension service. We need to stay on top of this invasion and not let the SLF do harm to our beloved plants.
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