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It feels as if spotted lanternflies are everywhere. The beach. The shopping plazas. The parking lot outside of work.
So what’s being done about it? And is it going to get worse before it gets better?
Those are just two of five questions we posed to Enrico Nardone, executive director of Seatuck Environmental Association in Islip, and his colleague, Terrence Benefiled, a conservation technician.
Scroll down to see what they have to say about the current and future situation here on Long Island.
Update: The spotted lanternfly finds its way to the East End; vineyards on high alert
Q: What steps are you aware of that are being taken to get their spread under control? Other than residents being told to kill them?
A: We’re not aware of what plans state or other officials have planned to control the spread. However, in addition to killing adults, residents can also eliminate egg masses (which look like mud on the bark of trees) and nymphal SLF (which are white-spottted, beetle-like bugs that start out black, but become red as they mature). People can also remove Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) from their yards – the tree is a nonnative invasive that originates in Asia and is the preferred host plant for SLF (though there are other plants they use).
Q: Is it going to get worse before it gets better?
A: The SLF experience in Pennsylvania and other states over the past decade suggests that eradication is not likely, but their numbers will stabilize – and likely decrease – after their initial infestation. Predators will have an increasing impact on them and people will get more used to dealing with them. As with many insects, their annual population will be impacted by weather conditions.
Q: How does the damage they might inflict on our ecosystem compare to that of the Asian long-horned beetle?
A: SLF are more of a threat to agricultural crops, especially grapes, than to native ecosystems. Compared to the Asian Longhorned Beetle, which directly kills trees by boring into their trunks and branches, SLF primarily feeds on plant sap, causing stress rather than outright death. SLF also has a broader host range, affecting various plants, while the Asian Longhorned Beetle primarily targets hardwood trees.
Q: Is there chance for eradication, or will the ecosystem have to adjust to them?
A: Eradication is not likely, it’s expected that they’ll be with us for a long time. Again, while it’s still early to be sure, they’re not expected to have a significant impact on native species. They may have more impact on agriculture, especially vineyards on LI. These industries will have to take more serious measures to minimize damage from SLF.
Q: What, if anything, can residents do in the colder months to stop their spread next spring into summer?
A: Residents can look for the mud-like egg cases on tree bark, deck railings, house shingles, etc – and scrape them off with a plastic knife and/or crush them. And look for congregations of black/red nymphs on tree branches – which can be sprayed with white vinegar.
Photo credit: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
