BLACKSBURG—If you’re looking for an outdoor activity this winter, consider going on a hunt for spotted lanternfly egg masses.
Spotted lanternflies remain a nuisance for homeowners and a threat to crop farmers—with the potential to destroy orchards and vineyards.
Their egg masses, which resemble mud patches, are laid in the fall and hatch in the spring, and experts say now is a good time to find them.
“Since they don’t hatch until early April, you can get in there, scrape them off and get some control,” said Eric Day, an entomologist and manager of Virginia Tech’s Insect Identification Lab. “And by looking for the egg masses, you’ll see if you have the presence of spotted lanternflies—alerting you to a potential problem down the road.”
The oval egg masses are about 1.5 inches long and half an inch wide, and can contain up to 50 eggs. Shiny gray when fresh, they turn a dull grayish brown—resembling mud or lichen. They’re found on the underside of branches, and on tree trunks, vehicles, homes, lawn furniture, grills, dog houses and decorative yard items. They’ve also been seen on fencing, tarps, decking, construction materials and firewood.
The egg masses can be scraped off surfaces using scraper cards or anything hard, tapered and flat. To kill them, put them into a resealable bag with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer. They also can be smashed with a stick or rock.
Day noted that while “you’re never going to get them all,” residents can see how prevalent they are and make informed decisions about management.
Spotted lanternflies continue to expand their range, with 17 more Virginia counties recently added to the map of current quarantine and known infestation areas. Due to limited predators and their ability to hitchhike and fly distances, “we’re at the unfortunate state where they’re pretty well established, and people are learning to live with them,” Day said.
Spotted lanternflies feed on over 100 plant species, including apples, stone fruits, hops and ornamental plants. They’re particularly destructive for wine grapes, and Virginia Tech and Virginia Cooperative Extension work closely with vineyards on mitigation.
“The honeydew they secrete on plants causes black sooty mold to grow, which blocks photosynthesis, stresses the plant and can lead to plant death,” said Tony Banks, senior assistant director of agriculture, development and innovation for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “By destroying their egg masses now, you can help reduce their numbers come spring.”
Residents living outside of current quarantine or known infestation areas are encouraged to report any spotted lanternfly sightings with their local Extension office. There is no need to report spotted lanternflies found inside current infested zones.
For more information on spotted lanternflies, visit bit.ly/42Qmvi9 or bit.ly/43iN9y7.
-Virginia Farm Bureau