The Spotted Lanternfly: 10 Tips For Getting Rid Of The Destructive Pest

The Spotted Lanternfly is spreading fast and in the Princeton region, several counties in New Jersey, and parts of Pennsylvania. The insect is being very destructive. The Spotted Lanternfly, which is from Asia and entered the United States in 2012, eats trees, grapes, hops, vegetable plants, flowers, and almost any plant in their path. Although they do not bite or sting, they can swarm people, making it difficult to be outside in infested areas.

Area residents are reporting that they are seeing increasing numbers of nymphs, adults and egg masses in the Princeton area, Residents of Princeton. Hopewell Township, Hopewell Borough, Hamilton, Lawrence, West Windsor, and Trenton have reported Spotted Lanternfly sightings to Planet Princeton. If you see grayish putty-like egg masses on trees, cars, lampposts, or other surfaces, scrape them off, double bag them and throw them away. You can also place the eggs in alcohol, bleach or hand sanitizer

If you are in one of the quarantined counties (Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Salem, Somerset, and Warren) you do not need to contact the New Jersey Department of Agriculture about Spotted Lanternfly sightings. Residents in those counties should check surfaces of materials and objects that can spread the pest before moving them, and destroy any Spotted Lanternflies or eggs that are observed.

Spotted Lanternfly locations in unquarantined counties in New Jersey can be reported to the Department of Agriculture by emailing [email protected] or by calling 609-406-6943.

The French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust has compiled a list of tips for dealing with adult Spotted Lanternflies.

1. Smush the bugs. It is effective and the method that is least harmful to the environment. If the flies are on a hard surface, fly swatters and wiffle ball bats work well. If you miss the first time, don’t give up. Lanternflies jump well the first time, but then lose energy. If you follow the bug, you will likely get it on the second or third try.
2. Keep a spray bottle of insecticidal soap handy to spray lanternflies on contact. Penn State reports that the following soaps work: Concern Insect Killing Soap C, Ortho Elementals Insecticidal Soap, and Safer Insect-Killing-Soap. People also report success using a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and water. Some people add dish soap. If you mist the bugs instead of using a stream, you are more likely to coat them before they jump away.
3. Capture them in a bottle. Hold a bottle, like a plastic Gatorade bottle, in front of the bug’s face. The bug will jump in.
4. Use a shop vac. If you have Spotted Lanternflies on your house, a shop vac will suck them up. Use water and Dawn dish soap in the reservoir to kill them.
5. Build a Spotted Lanternfly Circle Trap. With these traps, you can capture Lanternfly nymphs as they climb up trees. Duke Farms has a great video that walks you through making your own trap.
6. If you use sticky paper, use it judiciously. If you decide to wrap your tree with sticky paper or inside-out duct tape, only use a 2-inch or smaller strip to minimize harm to wildlife. Keep tape at least 4’ off the ground. Only use the tape around trees that the Spotted Lanternflies are attracted to or around deck posts. Monitor the tape closely. Do not wrap your entire tree in it or large portions of the trunk, otherwise birds and other animals will get stuck to the tree. If you are planning to use sticky bands this year, you should build a raised guard of wire or screening around the band to prevent other creatures from getting stuck on them. Penn State Extension has a short video that shows how to properly use sticky bands.
7. Spray weeds with vinegar. If the Spotted Lanternflies are on weeds you don’t want around anyway, spray them with vinegar. They die instantly, and you might get rid of the weed, too.
8. Plant more Milkweed. It appears that Spotted Lanternflies are attracted to Common Milkweed because the U.S. is not their home. The insects don’t know it is poisonous so they eat it and it kills them. The poisonous sap also slows them down so they are much easier to catch and smush in your hand. Bonus: Common Milkweed can save the Monarch butterfly from extinction too.
9. Shoot table salt at the insects at close range. Bug Assault is a gun that does this. It is meant to use on small insects like flies but it also works great on Spotted Lanternflies. The first shot may not kill them, but it will stun them, and then you can squish or step on them.
10. Use BB guns with no BBs. Pump the BB gun 4 to 5 times, and get really close to the insect.

For more information about Spotted Lanternflies, visit the New Jersey Department of Agriculture website.

Krystal Knapp

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Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.