Spotted lanternflies have become one of the most well-known invasive species over the past few years. While they may seem harmless, they can cause significant damage to homes and gardens, and present major issues for farmers.
The lanterfly is not native to the Americas, and they were only found in the U.S. starting in 2014. While it may be considered a pest in other areas, it is classified as “invasive” in the U.S.
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One of the lanternfly’s favorite hosts is the tree of heaven, which is also an invasive species of tree. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, recommends control over the tree, which may in turn negatively impact the lanternfly’s existence.
If you happen to spot a lanternfly, VDACS recommends that you kill it. They also lay masses of eggs that look like dried mud, and it’s recommended that you squash those as well.
“Stomp, squash, squish, squeeze, slap, spray, scrape, smash, or otherwise destroy SLF when you find it!”
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
The USDA and VDACS are also hard at work to treat the most infected areas of Virginia to slow the outgoing spread.