Spotted Lanternfly - Ask Extension
I recently discovered spotted laternfly nests on the tree in my backyard. Should I report these nests? Additionally, they are very high up in the tree...
Knowledgebase
Spotted Lanternfly #871911
Asked June 06, 2024, 2:32 PM EDT
I recently discovered spotted laternfly nests on the tree in my backyard. Should I report these nests? Additionally, they are very high up in the tree (its a maple, I think). There is no way that I can knock these current nests down to destroy them. Is there a way to prevent the lanternflys from nesting in the tree in the future?
Thank you!
Baltimore City County Maryland
Expert Response
Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) does not create any type of nest...are you able to share photos of what you are seeing? Nymphs can be abundant in some areas, but they don't build any type of webbed nest or other structure, the way some caterpillars can.
SLF does not need to be treated, as they do not cause serious damage the tree (or other plants in the area) and because they have already spread well beyond Maryland at this point. Insecticide used against SLF is not specific to that pest, so when used, they risk harming other insects, including pollinators or beneficial insects that help to keep pests in check.
If you can send pictures, we can try to either confirm the presence of SLF or identify the insect that is being seen instead. If you are noticing plant damage symptoms, feel free to send a picture or two of that as well. If you are limited in how many pictures to send per reply (usually 3), then simply reply again with new pictures attached, or just paste the photos into the body of your reply. (If the image files are at least 1MB in size, we'll be able to zoom-in to see more detail.)
Miri
SLF does not need to be treated, as they do not cause serious damage the tree (or other plants in the area) and because they have already spread well beyond Maryland at this point. Insecticide used against SLF is not specific to that pest, so when used, they risk harming other insects, including pollinators or beneficial insects that help to keep pests in check.
If you can send pictures, we can try to either confirm the presence of SLF or identify the insect that is being seen instead. If you are noticing plant damage symptoms, feel free to send a picture or two of that as well. If you are limited in how many pictures to send per reply (usually 3), then simply reply again with new pictures attached, or just paste the photos into the body of your reply. (If the image files are at least 1MB in size, we'll be able to zoom-in to see more detail.)
Miri
