The time is now to hunt and squish spotted lanternfly eggs before they hatch. The invasive species, native to Asia, first traveled to America on ships of imported goods, appearing in Pennsylvania in 2014. Since then, the spotted lantern fly has been top of mind for governments in 17 states as well as for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The bug was first seen in the Buckeye State in 2020 and now has spread to at least 18 counties.
The lanternflies can cause irreversible damage to native crops, plants and trees. Ohio has legally designated the bugs a destructive plant pest. Last year, they destroyed grape vines and apple crops and infested certain species of hardwood trees, including black walnut saplings and tree of heaven.
Life cycle of spotted lanternflies
From egg to adult, spotted lanternflies live for about a year.
Late spring – right now – is the time to get out and scrape spotted lanternfly egg masses from trees, according to Cleveland Metroparks Senior Conservation Science Manager Connie Hausman.
Here’s the lanternfly life cycle:
- In May, eggs hatch generally and the first juveniles, called nymphs, emerge
- By the end of July or August, the nymphs have grown larger and adults can be spotted
- Between August and October, adults mate
- Around October, the female laternflies start laying eggs
- Egg masses can be seen between October and April
What to do if you spot an egg mass?
State and federal agriculture departments have released tips on how to kill the egg masses before nymphs hatch.
Cleveland Metroparks volunteers use their special scapers duct taped to the end of poles to reach high up into the trees, but the soft egg masses can be scraped off with just a plastic card.
The eggs also can be found on patio furniture, picnic table and piles of firewood.
The masses, which look like mud or putty can also be scraped off with a credit card and and places in a plastic bag with hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol in it to kill the organisms or into a bucket with soapy water. Another option is to scrape the egg masses onto the ground and squish them.
Yes, you should still make spotted lanternfly reports
The Ohio Department of Agrigulture is asking people to use the Ohio Plant Pest Reporter if they see an spotted lanternfly. The form tracks the date, location and other information.
