The spotted lanternfly (
Lycorma delicatula) is a planthopper
which is native to China, India, and Vietnam, but has also spread to Korea
around 2006. It was detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, and has since been found to have confirmed populations in New Jersey and Virginia. The insect has also been spotted in
Delaware and New York, but has no known populations there. Its preferred host is tree-of-heaven (
Ailanthus altissima), but it is known to
feed on a wide range of plants. Although Maryland is fortunate not to have a
confirmed finding of this pest, it is important to remain vigilant in order to
prevent its spread and establishment into our state.
The spotted lanternfly adult is about 2.5 cm (1 inch) in
length. The fore wings are greyish-brown with black spots, with the wing tips
having a darker, brick-and-mortar pattern. The hind wings are mainly red with
black spots, followed by a white band and a black tip. When the spotted
lanternfly is at rest, a hint of the red color can be observed through the
forewings, but the color is especially noticeable when it is in flight. The
body is mainly black, but the abdomen appears to be mostly yellow with black
bands going down its length. Adults can be found as early as July, and they
will remain active until the onset of winter. In late fall, the adults will
mate, and the female will begin egg-laying. Spotted lanternfly females prefer
to lay their eggs on the tree-of-heaven, but will lay their eggs on any flat
vertical surface, including other trees, stones, vehicles, outdoor furniture,
and many others. The eggs are laid in groups of approximately 30-50, and then
coated with a waxy gray film. When this film has dried, it can look similar to
a splash of mud, which can make them difficult to notice. The eggs will hatch in
the spring, usually in late April or early May. The nymphs are small and are
black with white spots when they first hatch. As the nymphs mature, they start
to show red coloring, especially around their head, abdomen, and wing pads. One
habit that has been observed in the nymphs is a tendency to crawl up the tree
in the morning, and then back down the tree in the evening. As the nymphs often
do this in large groups, it can be very noticeable.