• Member Log-In
  • Contact Us

Loudoun County Master Gardeners

  • Home
    • LCMG Member Google Drive
  • About Us
    • Our Leadership
    • Awards
    • Contact Us
    • Support Loudoun County Master Gardeners
    • About VCE
  • Programs
    • My Backyard
    • Healthy Virginia Lawns
    • VA Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP)
    • Garden To Table
    • Pond/Stream/Site Erosion Assessment
    • School Garden Program
    • Speakers Bureau
    • Tree Stewards
    • For Children and Youth
    • Audubon at Home – Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy
  • Demonstration Garden
    • Garden Events
    • Garden History
    • Favorite Past Gardens and Plants
    • Veggie Journals
  • Gardening Advice
    • Help Desk
    • Horticultural Best Management Practices
    • Monthly Tips
    • Native Plants
    • Trumpet Vine Newsletter
    • Additional Gardening Resources
    • HOA Newsletters
  • Events
    • Monthly Gardening Lectures
    • Saturdays in the Garden
    • Online Plant Sales
    • Annual Gardening Symposium
    • Spring Plant Sale
  • Become An Extension Master Gardener
You are here: Home / Gardening Advice / Spotted Lanternfly

Spotted Lanternfly

Lycorma delicatula  

      

From VT Publication:  Spotted Lanternfly Ento-265

The spotted lanternfly (SLF) was detected in Virginia in January 2018. It is an invasive planthopper that was discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014. In Pennsylvania and its native range, it is a pest of grapes, peaches, hops, and apples. It is commonly associated with tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima. It has the potential to be a serious pest of agriculture and home gardens in Virginia.

Identification: The first stage nymph is wingless, black, and has white spots on the body and legs. The last nymphal instar develops red patches over the body while retaining the white-spot pattern.

Adult SLF are approximately 1” long and ½” wide. The legs and head are black, while the abdomen is yellow with broad, black bands on top and bottom. Its forewings are light-brown/grey with black spots and the wings tips have reticulated black rectangular blocks outlined in grey. The hind wings are a scarlet red with black spots and tips of reticulated black blocks, separated by a white stripe. At rest, the SLF shows lightbrown, grayish wings with black spots held “tent-like” over its body. Adult females are distinguished by the presence of a red spot on the end of the abdomen.

SLF egg masses (oothecae) contain 30-50 eggs, are 1-1.5” long and ½-¾” wide, grayish-brown in color, and covered with a grey, waxy coating (newly laid oothecae are somewhat shiny). Old oothecae appear as rows of 30-50 brownish seed-like deposits in 4-7 columns, measuring roughly 1” long.

Hosts: Although SLF is most commonly found on Ailanthus, (tree-of-heaven), it can be found on over 70 other species of trees and is a pest of grapes, hops, peaches, and other stone fruits. 

Tree-of-heaven look-alikes

Invasive  Tree of Heaven & Native Look-Alike ID Photographs

Control of Tree of Heaven

Signs and symptoms of SLF: Since the SLF produces sugary secretions called honeydew, look for the black sooty mold that grows on the honeydew. The sooty mold will cover branches, trunks, and man-made objects under the tree. In addition, some of the honeydew will ferment leaving a vinegar smell. The black sooty mold makes it appear like a fire has scorched in the area.

More information: https://www.loudoun.gov/5101/Spotted-Lanternfly

IF SPOTTED ON YOUR PROPERTY, CONTACT our Help Desk at loudounmg@vt.edu.

Residential Controls of SLF 

SLF Property Look-up (Winchester area)

Need a speaker on the topic?  Please send an email to LCMGSpeaker@gmail.com requesting such.

Educational presentations:

  • History 2018 September
  • Life Cycle
  • What is being done
  • Egg Mass Identification

Educational publications:

  • Spotted Lanternfly: http://digitalpubs.ext.vt.edu/vcedigitalpubs/9322249259597133/MobilePagedReplica.action?pm=2&folio=1#pg1 
  • Spotted Lanterfly Spanish Translation:  ENTO – 279S
  • Lifecycle: ENTO – 268NP
  • Possible Adult Look-alikes: ENTO- 278NP
  • Immature Look-alikes:   ENTO – 277NP 
  • Egg Mass Look-alikes:  ENTO – 276NP

Latest News:

- ONLINE PLANT SALES. Perennials and bulbs! Click here for ordering info.

- PEST ALERT! Spotted Lanternfly. Click link to learn more.

- Protect our NATURAL RESOURCES: WATER & SOIL! Find out how with the My Backyard Program.

- FREE Monthly Lectures. Click for location and info.

- NEED A SPEAKER? Click here for more info.

Got a Question? Ask our Help Desk or visit a Garden Clinic!

Get Our Quarterly Newsletter

Donate to LCMGA

Connect With Us

Link to our Facebook Page
Link to our Rss Page

Demonstration Garden

About LCMG

Monthly Gardening Tips

Copyright © 2021 Loudoun County Master Gardeners · Virginia Cooperative Extension, 750 Miller Dr. SE, Suite F-3, Leesburg, VA 20175

Sitemap · Admin Only Log-In