'Quality Of Life Pest' Lanternflies Spotted in Connecticut

CONNECTICUT — Being knee-deep in autumn does not get us off the list for new insect infestations, apparently.

State scientists announced earlier this fall they have detected populations of adult spotted lanternflies in New Canaan, and a single individual in Stamford.

"Spotted lanternfly is probably the most serious agricultural pest to hit U.S. shores in a long time," according to Victoria Lynn Smith, a botany and invasive-insect expert with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. "The insect will kill a vineyard in a year or two, and may also affect other crops such as hops and fruit trees. It will also affect trees such as maple and walnut."

In September, multiple adult SLF were detected in Greenwich and a single adult insect, likely a hitchhiker, was found in West Haven. Single adults were detected in Farmington in 2018 and Southbury in 2019.

Native to China, India and Vietnam, the sap-feeding, plant-hopping spotted lanternfly was discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014. It has also been reported in New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. In the fall, adults about 1 inch long can often be found congregating on tree-of-heaven, willows and other trees. They will lay egg masses on trees and almost any nearby surface such as rocks, decks, houses, outdoor equipment and furniture. Baby SLF, called "nymphs," will hatch from the eggs in the spring.

It's not just our gardens that the little buggers stand to mess up, Smith told Patch.

"SLF has real potential to become a 'quality of life' pest as well. It is basically a big leaf hopper, and leaf hoppers have sweet, liquid excrement. When populations of SLF are high, the excrement will encourage the growth of black sooty mold, which is unsightly. Also, no one wants to sit outside and enjoy lunch with insect excrement raining down. The excrement is slippery on surfaces, and there have been reports of broken bones due to people falling down slick steps or slippery decks. The excrement also may attract stinging bees or wasps. On top of all this, other countries may refuse to accept U.S. agricultural exports, if they feel that they may be contaminated with SLF."

What's the matter? Didn't have "broken bones due to slippery bug excrement" on your 2020 bingo card?

Surveys in the immediate area of each detection will be needed by state and federal plant inspectors to determine the extent of the infestation, according to CAES.

Early detection is important, and the public is urged to report potential sightings of this invasive pest. If you suspect you have found a spotted lanternfly, snap a picture of it, collect it if possible, and report it to ReportSLF@ct.gov.