![]() ![]() Photo by Erica Smyers, Penn State University. Spotted lanternfly adults on an apple tree in Pennsylvania. ![]() This can reduce marketable yields, delay fruit ripening and reduce winter tolerance to cold weather. The insects remove significant amounts of sap and the sooty mold can contaminate berries. Neither the immature nor adult SLFs feed on the fruits themselves, but large numbers of insects feeding on these plants during the harvest season can affect fruit quality. High densities of SLF have also been observed on grape vines and on hops vines. Tree hosts of SLF include apple, plum, cherry, peach and apricot. The greatest economic impacts of SLF may result from its ability to feed on many types of crop plants. to date, continued spread of this invader concerns many foresters and arborists. While SLF has not killed any trees in the U.S. Many of these species are commercially important as ornamental or timber trees. While tree of heaven is a highly preferred host, reports from Pennsylvania indicate SLF can also feed on American beech, basswood, sycamore, big-toothed aspen, black birch, black cherry, black gum, black walnut, assorted dogwoods, Japanese snowbell, maples, oaks, paper birch, pignut hickory, pines, sassafras, serviceberry, slippery elm, tulip tree, white ash and willows. Tree of heaven is now considered an invasive plant and has spread across much of the United States. Female trees produce abundant seeds and tree of heaven can grow on a variety of soils, including disturbed areas. It was also planted as an ornamental street tree in many municipalities. Tree of heaven is native to China, but was widely planted in much of the eastern U.S. Tree of heaven, Ailanthus altissima, is a highly preferred and perhaps required host for SLF. Sooty mold can reduce the amount of light reaching the surface of the leaves, decreasing photosynthesis rates. Black sooty mold grows on the honeydew, affecting the appearance and potentially the health of herbaceous plants, shrubs and seedlings beneath infested trees. This sticky honeydew attracts other pests, particularly hornets, wasps and ants, causing more annoyance for people in affected areas and complicating crop harvests. Immature and adult SLFs excrete tremendous amounts of sugary honeydew as they feed, which lands on plants around and beneath them. To feed on plant sap, SLF pierce the bark, creating wounds that can allow plant pathogens to infect trees. Dead shoots on some hosts, particularly black walnut trees, have been observed in Pennsylvania. At high SLF densities, this feeding can reduce vigor of trees and vines. Spotted lanternfly feeds by sucking sap from the stems and trunks of a wide variety of plants. Photos by Emelie Swackhamer, Penn State University, (left photo) and Kenneth R. Check for egg masses on trees and items stored outside. This means SLF can be easily spread over long distances if people move the articles bearing the eggs. ![]() Spotted lanternfly females can lay their eggs on nearly any surface including vehicles, patio furniture and outdoor equipment, as well as trees. Check vehicles and any outdoor items for egg masses or other life stages before leaving areas where SLF has been reported. Residents or visitors to areas where SLF occurs should be aware of the risks of moving this invasive pest. Quarantines have been established to prevent further spread of SLF life stages by people moving infested material. Spotted lanternfly can be easily spread to new locations when people accidentally transport eggs or other life stages into new areas. This invasive pest can feed on at least 70 species of trees, as well as vines and shrubs, including fruit trees, hops, grapevines and several hardwoods. You can check its current status in Michigan by visiting the State’s invasive species website: . It was first found in the United States in 2014 in Berks County, southeastern Pennsylvania, and then spread to other eastern U.S. Spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), is a sap-feeding insect native to China and other parts of Southeast Asia. ![]()
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