Lanternfly - Ask Extension
Lots of lanternflies feeding on ailanthus trees that were planted years ago outside our property line.
Anything that we can do at this point? Does s...
Knowledgebase
Lanternfly #881106
Asked August 12, 2024, 9:12 AM EDT
Lots of lanternflies feeding on ailanthus trees that were planted years ago outside our property line.
Anything that we can do at this point? Does spraying with vinegar kill them? How about soapy water? I realize it’s probably a losing battle but I feel like I need to do something.
Any thoughts by Howard county to eradicate ailanthus trees?
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
As counter-intuitive as it feels, you don't need to spray anything for Spotted Lanternfly. We don't recommend any chemical sprays- even homemade, for reasons Penn State Extension explains here: https://extension.psu.edu/are-home-remedies-a-good-solution-penn-state-extension-says-no
It is a losing battle as they are constantly moving and even if you can squish some, more will arrive... AND there is the chance of harming non-target beneficial organisms in the process.
Here is our page on SLF:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/spotted-lanternfly-home-gardens/
As far as removal of the trees, they are EVERYWHERE as they established long, long ago. (The 1943 classic 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn' referred to the tough, resilient Tree of Heaven a.k.a. Ailanthus.) You could of course remove them on your property, but it is more complicated than for most trees, and is covered in a link to Penn State at the bottom of the Lanternfly page.
The good news is that in the areas of MD and other states where they arrived earlier in huge numbers, their populations have dwindled.
Christine
It is a losing battle as they are constantly moving and even if you can squish some, more will arrive... AND there is the chance of harming non-target beneficial organisms in the process.
Here is our page on SLF:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/spotted-lanternfly-home-gardens/
As far as removal of the trees, they are EVERYWHERE as they established long, long ago. (The 1943 classic 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn' referred to the tough, resilient Tree of Heaven a.k.a. Ailanthus.) You could of course remove them on your property, but it is more complicated than for most trees, and is covered in a link to Penn State at the bottom of the Lanternfly page.
The good news is that in the areas of MD and other states where they arrived earlier in huge numbers, their populations have dwindled.
Christine
