Spotted Lanternfly Background

• Detected on September 22, 2014 in Berks County Pennsylvania.

• Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) is a plant hopper, Lycorma delicatula (white) belonging to the family Fulgoridae in the order Hemiptera (true bugs).

• Makes use of over 70 different plant species, including fruit trees, ornamental trees, woody trees, vegetables, herbs and vines. Strongly prefers the invasive “Tree of Heaven”.

Damage

• Like most hemipterans, SLF feeds on plants using their sucking and piercing mouthparts to extract plant sap.

• Adults and nymphs feed on phloem tissues of young stems with their piercing and sucking mouthparts and excrete large quantities of liquid (honeydew).

• Feeding creates weeping wounds.

• Honeydew facilitates the growth of sooty mold.

• Weeping Sap attracts activity from hymenopteran such as wasps, hornets, ants, bees etc.

• Impacts quality of outdoor life for everyone.

What to Do