Invasive insect's eggs to hatch before May
Officials are asking Ohioans to keep their eyes peeled for the spotted lanternfly, a pretty but destructive invasive insect.
The spotted lanternfly was first identified in the Buckeye State in 2020. It's an invasive plant hopper that can easily be mistaken for a butterfly.
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According to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Franklin County was among 12 counties in the state under quarantine for the spotted lanternfly last year. It was also among six counties in the state with high infestation rates.
Brian Heath, district manager for Davey Tree, said he anticipates this year will be even worse. The spotted lanternfly's biggest food source is the tree of heaven, but it's also known to feed on grapes, hops, stone fruits and other agriculturally important plants.
The National Phenology Network's spotted lanternfly forecast projects eggs will hatch in central Ohio within the next week or so, with adults expected to emerge in about two months.
'If you see the egg mass on the tree, which kind of looks like mud or bubblegum that might be stuck to the tree, you can scrape that off and dispose of it, put it in a bag with some rubbing alcohol or something like that to make sure that it kills it,' Heath said.
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Spotted lanternflies lay their eggs wherever they can on things like trees, bushes and patio furniture.
When they eat, they produce a fluid called honeydew, which can be attractive to flies and wasps and can further damage plants.
'That falls on to leaves or anything below the tree, could be pavement, concrete, patios, things like that,' Heath said. 'When people are going to notice this is either when they touch it and it's sticky, or when it turns black because of sooty mold, which is a fungus.'
According to Heath, being proactive is key. He suggests calling in an expert for preventative treatment before eggs begin hatching.
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'It would be, you know, a certified technician coming out and most likely injecting a systemic insecticide into the soil, which then gets taken up into the tree,' Heath said. 'So when the spotted lanternfly tries to feed on the tree, it basically will poison it and it'll die.'
Spotted lanternflies are also known to be hitchhikers. They can't fly, but they can jump and climb. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources recommends taking your car through the car wash before traveling, especially if you find yourself in an area that's highly infested.
Anyone who finds a spotted lanternfly is encouraged to squash it and report it to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. To report a sighting, visit this link.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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