All Over Albany

Spotting the spotted lanternfly

There is an insect called the spotted lanternfly. It's an invasive species here in the United States. And the state Department of Environmental Conservation would like you to report if you see one around here.

DEC reasons blurbage (emphasis added):

SLF pose a significant threat to New York's agricultural and forest health. Adults and nymphs use their sucking mouthparts to feed on the sap of more than 70 plant species. This feeding by sometimes thousands of SLF stresses plants, making them vulnerable to disease and attacks from other insects. SLF also excrete large amounts of sticky "honeydew," which attracts sooty molds that interfere with plant photosynthesis, negatively affecting the growth and fruit yield of plants. New York's annual yield of apples and grapes, with a combined value of $358.4 million, could be impacted if SLF enters New York. The full extent of economic damage this insect could cause is unknown at this time.

Although native insects also secrete honeydew, the size of SLF and the large populations that congregate in an area result in large accumulations of it. The sticky mess and the swarms of insects it attracts can significantly hinder outdoor activities. In Pennsylvania, where SLF populations are the densest, people can't be outside without getting honeydew on their hair, clothes, and other belongings.

Ew. Also: the term "sucking mouthparts."

The spotted lanternfly is native to Asia. It's turned up in Pennsylvania (see honeydew incidents above), New Jersey, Delaware, and Virginia. And a dead one was found in New York's Delaware County last fall. Earlier this year the US Department of Agriculture announced $17.5 million in funding aimed at stopping the spread of the insect in Pennsylvania. [Entomology Today] [USDA]

By the way: Despite kind of looking like a moth, a spotted lanternfly is categorized as a "planthopper."

photo: Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, bugwood.org