Spotted Lanternfly
What is the Spotted Lanternfly?
Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive insect. It’s native to China, India, and Vietnam but was first found in the United States in 2014. It feeds on many trees, including fruit, ornamental, and woody ones. They move around easily, through the movement of materials or as egg masses. As it feeds, it sucks sap and excretes honeydew which can build up and become a become a growth area for sooty mold. SLF damages trees and rarely kills them.
SLF are not dangerous to human health. In many cases, SLF are not the sole reason for tree death. To help protect your tree, spend time on tree care (watering, mulching, weeding) to increase your tree’s resiliency. Check out our Tree Care and Maintenance Guide for more information on tree care!
What should I do if I see Spotted Lanternfly?
Great question! The biggest answer is to squash them when you see them. Every SLF that is killed can prevent up to 100 offspring from hatching in the next life cycle! They can be difficult to squash, so you can use a handheld vacuum or shopvac to suck them up. Empty your vacuum’s dust trap into an alcohol solution to kill them after sucking them up.
Circle traps around infested trees can effectively capture SLF. Follow this guide from Penn State Extension to build your own, or you can purchase one. We do not recommend using sticky bands around your trees. These traps are more likely to attract and kill beneficial insects such as butterflies and other pollinators, as well as songbirds, bats, birds of prey, and more.
Adult SLF lay egg masses on many different surfaces, including but not limited to trees, cars, guard rails, and trains. They lay eggs between September and June. If you see egg masses, squash them! You can also scrape them into an alcohol solution. But be careful – SLF egg masses look similar to eggs from native mantis species, so be sure to properly identify the egg masses before you squash them.
Spotted Lanternfly Life Cycle
There are four stages of life for the Spotted Lanternfly.
Egg mass (October-June)
You can find egg masses on trees, stones, cars, patio furniture…really anywhere. The masses are 1 inch long and are covered in a white substance that dries over time, looking like mud (blending into things like trees).
Early stage nymph (May-June)
After they hatch, nymphs are very tiny and grow to about 1/4 inch. They have black bodies with white spots. They’re excellent jumpers.
Late stage nymph (July-September)
As late stage nymphs, SLFs get bright red spots in addition to the white. They grow to be 1/2 inch long.
Adult (July-December with egg laying beginning in September)
Adult SLFs are about 1 inch long. Their wings are red closest to their bodies, with tan wings and black spots outside. They like to jump and glide.
Additional Resources
This page is just a brief primer on spotted lanternfly, but more information is available. You can find it here: