Connecticut’s spotted lanternflies are suddenly everywhere. Here’s why
Connecticut’s spotted lanternflies have entered their most noticeable — and arguably most irritating — phase of the year.
The invasive insects are reaching adulthood across the state, making them larger, more mobile and far more conspicuous than they were earlier this summer. They are gathering on trees, covering some sidewalks and buildings and occasionally launching themselves toward unsuspecting pedestrians.
That sudden visibility can make it seem as though the population exploded overnight. In reality, much of the change is seasonal.
Spotted lanternfly eggs hatch during spring and early summer. The young nymphs begin as small, black insects with white spots, later adding bright red coloring. By late summer, many have become roughly inch-long adults with tan, black-spotted forewings and striking red hindwings that flash when they jump or fly.
By September, the spotted lanternfly has reached adulthood.
Dave Zajac / Hearst Connecticut Media
Adults typically are active from July into November. Freezing temperatures eventually will kill them, but not before females begin depositing overwintering egg masses on trees, vehicles, stones, outdoor furniture and almost any other hard surface.
Lanternflies continue spreading in Connecticut
The insects are not merely becoming easier to see. Their Connecticut footprint also has continued expanding.
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station says spotted lanternflies now have been reported in all eight counties. On Aug. 10, CAES Director Jason White said they had been detected in 153 of Connecticut’s 169 towns.
Large concentrations recently have become especially noticeable in downtown Hartford, demonstrating how thoroughly the insects have moved beyond their earliest foothold in southwestern Connecticut.
Still, a more widespread infestation does not guarantee that every location will experience ever-increasing numbers. Researchers have observed populations surge and then decline in parts of Pennsylvania, where the insect first was detected in the United States in 2014. Native predators, parasites and insect-killing fungi gradually may begin exerting more control.
Connecticut also has not yet documented the level of widespread agricultural destruction once feared. Grapevines remain the state’s greatest concern because heavy feeding can weaken vines. Some Connecticut vineyard managers say they are seeing more lanternflies than last year, although major damage to fruit has not yet been reported.
For most homeowners, CAES describes the insect primarily as a nuisance. Lanternflies do not bite or sting people or pets. They feed on plant sap and excrete a sticky, sugary substance called honeydew, which can coat surfaces, attract bees and wasps and promote black, sooty mold.
What Connecticut residents can do
Crushing individual adults and nymphs can help, but stomping alone will not eradicate an established statewide population.
Spotted lanternfly nymphs appear black with white spots during June and July.
Dan Amarante / Hearst Connecticut Media
Residents still should photograph and report sightings to CAES, including the location. Before moving cars, campers, grills, firewood or outdoor furniture, check them for hitchhiking adults or egg masses.
This time of year, start looking for egg masses resembling gray putty or dried mud. Each normally contains about 30 to 50 eggs. Scrape the entire mass into a sealed bag containing rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer, then place it in the trash.
Circle-style traps can capture lanternflies climbing tree trunks. Exposed sticky bands should be avoided because they can also trap birds and beneficial insects.
Removing
tree-of-heaven, the lanternfly’s preferred host, may provide more meaningful long-term control. However, the invasive tree has lookalikes and can resprout aggressively when cut incorrectly, so
residents should follow CAES guidance or consult a professional.
The spotted lanternfly prefers to feed off the tree-of-heaven.
Robert Marchant / Hearst Connecticut Media
One stomping sneaker will not solve Connecticut’s lanternfly problem. Finding and destroying a single egg mass, however, could prevent dozens from appearing next year.
