The spotted lanternfly could spoil many families' holiday season, according to New Jersey agricultural expert Joseph Zoltowski, director of the New Jersey Deparment of Agriculture's Division of Plant Industry, speaking to NJ.com.
Zoltowski says the tree-killing insect could potentially spread to homes by hiding in Christmas trees and leaving eggs to hatch. The spotted lanternfly, which is a native of eastern Asia, arrived in the U.S. four years ago in Pennsylvania and has spread throughout the eastern parts of the state.
The bug has recently been detected in three New Jersey counties—Hunterdon, Mercer and Warren. It is believed to spread by attaching itself and its eggs to vehicles carrying wood, landscaping materials and agricultural produce, which would include the bark and branches of Christmas trees. "They're very hard to spot," said Zoltowski.
A woman in Warren County, New Jersey, confirmed that she found lanternfly eggs attached to her Christmas tree once the insects hatched inside her home, according to Zoltowski. The expert said that there were two egg masses discovered in the bark, which are capable of storing as many as 30 to 50 eggs each.
Zoltowksi suggests that those planning to get a pre-cut Christmas tree should inspect carefully for eggs and live insects before making their purchase. Though the tree itself would only be killed by a large number of these insects, any presence of the bugs could spread in someone's home. "It's a bad bug in that it could affect all types of agriculture," Zoltowski said.
According to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture: "The Spotted Lanternfly adult is approximately 1 inch long and a half-inch wide at rest. The forewing is grey with black spots and the wings tips are reticulated black blocks outlined in gray.
"The hind wings have contrasting patches of red and black with a white band. The legs and head are black; the abdomen is yellow with broad black bands. Immature stages are black with white spots, and develop red patches as they grow.
"Adults and nymphs feed on phloem tissues of young stems with their piercing and sucking mouthparts and excrete large quantities of liquid (honeydew) [which] facilitates the growth of sooty mold," reports the department.
Grape and apple growers in Pennsylvania are on high alert as female lanternflies are laying eggs for the following year, according to American Agriculturalist.
"All lanternflies are in their adult stage right now, and females are laying eggs on hard surfaces such as trees, stones, fences, fence posts or vineyard posts," according to American Agriculturalist's report. "Spotted lanternflies have an apparent appetite for grapes, wine or juice, with 200 to 250 feedings per vine."
For more information read The New Jersey Department of Agriculture guidelines on spotted lanterfly identification and reporting.
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