Butler County warned to stay alert during spotted lanternfly hatching season
The spotted lanternfly may sound like a harmless creature to those not in the know, but state and government agencies are warning Pennsylvania residents not to be fooled.
The species, which has been spotted in at least nine states including Pennsylvania, is considered a threat to local vegetation that feeds on all kinds of plants and trees. Spotted lanternflies are under quarantine in 34 Pennsylvania counties, including Butler County, which was added to the list in March.
Plantkeepers and farmers across the state are told to be on guard, as hatching season for the spotted lanternfly has just begun. The species typically lays its eggs during the fall, and those eggs usually hatch during the springtime.
Native to east Asia, the spotted lanternfly (lycorma delicatula) was first spotted making its way across the ocean to the United States in 2014 and has spread its way up and down the county ever since, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In fact, its first discovery in the United States was in Berks County, Pennsylvania, where it allegedly arrived via an overseas shipment.
Butler County was added to the quarantine list earlier this year after multiple confirmed sightings in Cranberry and Jackson townships.
“It is a nuisance because it can disrupt and harm trees and ornamentals in our environment,” said Diane Dallos, Master Gardener coordinator for the Penn State University Extension’s Butler County office. “It can make a mess of outdoor spaces such as their decks, patios, lawn furniture, vehicles, even road signs.”
According to the Penn State Extension office, the species is considered a “plant stressor.” It doesn’t usually kill the plants it feasts on, but it does cause significant structural damage which can affect the plants’ ability to grow.
The spotted lanternfly is considered a threat to all local plant life. However, it is known to be partial to the tree of heaven — which is also considered an invasive species, according to the USDA. Spotted lanternflies have also been known to devour black walnut and maple trees, as well as roses, perennials, and sumac.
While individual flies may be hard to catch, masses of spotted lanternfly eggs should be impossible to miss. These typically look like dark smears of mud and can be found on any surface. According to Dallos, the best way to safely dispose of lanternfly eggs is to scrape the mass into a plastic bottle or bag before dousing it in rubbing alcohol to fully kill them off.
Even if the spotted lanternflies make it past the hatching stage, Dallos stresses that if someone spots one, the best approach is simply to stomp or squish it to death.
“Once they have hatched, they are very small at first — as small as a quarter of an inch in size, so they’re going to be hard to see,” Dallos said. “But as they get bigger, the best approach is to kill them.”
It should also be impossible to miss where spotted lanternflies have struck. After they feed on the sap of plants, they expel the waste as a dark substance called “honeydew” which sticks to surfaces, promoted the buildup of mold and fungal spores on the host plant, and draws other insects which could damage the plant further, according to the USDA.
Now that Butler County is on the state’s quarantine list, local businesses that are involved in inter-county commerce must obtain a spotted lanternfly permit from the state Department of Agriculture.
Some businesses in Butler County were aware likely of these policies if they do business in neighboring Allegheny County, which has been on the quarantine list since August 2022.
