Egg masses are laid on hard surfaces, including trees, stones and patio furniture. The egg masses are covered in a white putty-like substance, which ages over time to look like cracked mud. Penn State Extension/Submitted Photo

Gardeners, beware: The menace presented by the invasive spotted lanternfly will change with the seasons but not go away altogether over the winter, environmental experts say.

The spotted lanternfly, a brown-and-red-winged leaf-hopping insect, is an invasive species across much of the country. The bug has been found in Pennsylvania since 2014 and was first sighted on the eastern side of the state in Berks County, according to the state Department of Agriculture.

The spotted lanternfly is known for weakening and destroying crops and plants, as well as causing a nuisance for homeowners through its sticky excrement.

Penn State Butler Extension Master Gardeners hotline representative Mary Reefer said that while adult spotted lanternflies will die off as the weather gets colder, their eggs will remain.

“The adults don’t live over winter, but the eggs do,” she said. “That’s the problem with fall and winter, because that’s the time to look for the egg masses and destroy them if you can. Unfortunately, most of the egg masses are laid above reach. The statistic is that 95% of them you can’t reach, and we certainly don’t recommend getting ladders out and looking for them in trees.”

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