Neither the MDA nor Extension encourage people to use insecticide to combat Spotted Lanternflies (SLF). There are several reasons for this: no pesticide is SLF-specific (all carry some risk to other insects, including pollinators, fireflies...anything that comes into contact with the application or its residues); no pesticide will work to eradicate them, as more will move into the area in a short amount of time; they jump so readily that any lower-toxicity spray is unlikely to contact them well enough to work; they do not cause significant or detectable damage to home landscape plants, so removing them is not necessary.

Any pesticide whose residues last longer, thus killing SLF that wander over a treated surface later, will also kill beneficial insects, including those that eat SLF. Lanternflies cannot fly at this age, only when they are adults; it will be a few more weeks until they become winged and can fly; for now, they just jump.

The lower-toxicity options would be insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. However, no pesticide should be applied when temperatures are above 85 degrees, as plant tissue damage becomes more likely. Since these pesticides are intended for application on plants, not walls or siding, we do not know what other damage they might cause to those materials, especially in hot sun. SLF does not damage structures, so they do not need to be killed on siding, walls, or other surfaces.

Extension does not recommend specific pesticide brands or pesticide applicator companies. If you wanted to hire someone, many landscapers and arborists have a pesticide applicator's license.

Emily