{"id":1406,"date":"2024-10-11T08:10:53","date_gmt":"2024-10-11T12:10:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/?p=1406"},"modified":"2025-09-19T10:22:35","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T14:22:35","slug":"spotted-lanternfly-beautiful-and-bad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/spotted-lanternfly-beautiful-and-bad\/","title":{"rendered":"Spotted lanternfly: Beautiful and bad"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Heather N. Kolich, ANR Agent, UGA Extension Forsyth County<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"a
In the last stage before adulthood, SLF nymphs have red bodies with white spots and black markings. Photo by Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this year, I received a call from man who was urgently reporting a large number of spotted lanternflies (Lycorma delicatula<\/em>) that were landing on trucks all over the depot. He was absolutely correct to call and report sighting them. These invasive planthoppers congregate in huge numbers, suck the sap from plants, and produce copious sticky droppings (called honeydew) that grow sooty mold. While their favorite host plant is another invasive species, tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima<\/em>), when their feeding activity weakens that tree, spotted lanternflies (SLFs) transfer to native hardwoods, fruit trees, and grapevines and feed on those. The injury SLFs causes to these plants poses a threat to Georgia\u2019s agriculture, horticulture, and timber industries, which are important mainstays for our state economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, my caller was witnessing the invasion from Forsyth County, North Carolina. So far, spotted lanternfly has not been reported in Georgia. But it is present in 17 states, including neighboring Tennessee and North Carolina. We\u2019re asking you to be on the lookout and let us know if you see them here. Better yet, bring us some in a jar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Eradication of invasive species is dependent on early detection and rapid response. Open access<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What to look for<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With their wings spread open, SLF looks like a colorful moth, but it doesn\u2019t have the feathery antennae. When opened, the forewings are tan with black spots and a have a darker, unspotted section at the tip. The hindwings are bright red with black spots and have white and black banded tips. It has a heavy, rounded body similar to a bumble bee, and is equipped with piercing, sucking mouthparts. When resting, their wings fold up tent-like over their bodies and appear pink and brown with black spots about two-thirds of the length from the head. The head and legs are black.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
Spotted lanternfly nymphs emerging from camouflaged egg masses on a tree. Early-stage nymphs are black with white spots on body and legs. Photo by Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From July through December, adult SLFs are active and laying eggs. The females lay columns of eggs in masses of 30-80, and then cover them with a putty-like excretion that looks like mud when it dries. SLFs lay eggs on tree trunks and branches, logs, fence posts, mailboxes, and other objects, including cars. Hitchhiking on cars allows invasive pests to spread quickly from state to state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nymphs hatch in spring (April-June) and mature throughout the summer. Early-stage nymphs are black with white spots on their bodies and legs; later-stage nymphs retain the spots and black legs, but the body turns red with black accents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to do<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"a
Grapevines are a favored host plant for spotted lanternfly feeding. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The USDA Forest Service describes four elements of invasive species management:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Prevention<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Early Detection and Rapid Response<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Control and Management<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Rehabilitation and Restoration<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    SLF got past the first line of defense, prevention. The second action point, early detection and rapid response, is critical and time sensitive. Once invasive species reach a certain level of spread and numbers, we lose the opportunity to eradicate them and must continually manage against the damage they cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The fact that SLF hasn\u2019t been reported in Georgia doesn\u2019t mean that it isn\u2019t here. Invasive species that hitchhike on vehicles can travel far and fast and pop up in random and widely separated areas. All of us play a role in the early detection and rapid response phase. Here\u2019s what we can do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"The
    Spotted lanternflies congregate in huge numbers to feed on the sap of trees and plants. Photo by Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n