Wildlife spottings are increasingly common in our area — and not all of them are welcome. On the list of New Jersey Agricultural Department’s ‘report immediately’ (and destroy) are lanternfly bugs — which are invasive planthopper bugs. The insect was last seen in Hoboken in 2022, but it’s likely locals will spot the bugs again in the coming weeks. Lanternfly bugs are detrimental to plants and our ecosystem. As interesting as these bugs’ spotted wings are, they are unfortunately a disguise for a sinister creature. Read on for how to deal with the lanternfly bugs in Hoboken.
(Photo credit: City of Hoboken via Twitter)
About the Spotted Lanterfly
Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, is an invasive planthopper native to China, India, and Vietnam; it is also established in South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. It was first discovered in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in Berks County in 2014 and has spread to other counties in PA, as well as the states of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, Connecticut, and Ohio.
This insect has the potential to greatly impact agricultural crops and hardwood trees. SLF feeds on the plant sap of many different plants including grapevines, maples, black walnut, and other important plants in NJ. While it does not harm humans or animals, it can reduce the quality of life for people living in heavily infested areas.
Be on the lookout! Spotted Lanternflies, an invasive species that can harm local plant life, have been sighted in Hoboken. If you see one, please report it to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture at https://t.co/zuXnbRpaB0 pic.twitter.com/tvC7VsE9mr
— City of Hoboken (@CityofHoboken) August 9, 2021
Read More: How to Safely Kill the Spotted Lanternfly
Why You Should Care
SLF is a serious invasive pest with a healthy appetite for our plants and it can be a significant nuisance, according to the New Jersey Division of Agriculture, affecting the quality of life and enjoyment of the outdoors.
The spotted lanternfly uses its piercing-sucking mouthpart to feed on sap from over 70 different plant species. It has a strong preference for economically important plants and the feeding damage significantly stresses the plants which can lead to decreased health and potentially death.
As SLF feeds, the insect excretes honeydew (a sugary substance) which can attract bees, wasps, and other insects. The honeydew also builds up and promotes the growth of sooty mold (fungi), which can cover the plant, forest understories, patio furniture, cars, and anything else found below SLF feeding.
If You See a Spotted Lanternfly, Report it
To report a sighting, use the reporting tool or call 833-4BADBUG (833-422-3284). For other questions, email SLF-plantindustry@ag.nj.gov.
According to the DOA, the Tree of Heaven seems to be the bug’s ‘preferred’ laying spot, and since surveying and treatments began in the state in 2018, more than 200,000 Trees of Heaven on almost 19,000 acres have been treated. Since the lanternflies were a nuisance in Hoboken last summer, we should all be on the lookout again this summer.
Spotted outside of the 9th Street light rail in #Hoboken @CityofHoboken 😰🙀 pic.twitter.com/rRa7xClRkz
— The Hoboken Girl (@thehobokengirl) August 10, 2021
New York residents can also report a sighting using the agriculture department’s online reporting tool. Additionally, residents should know the signs of a lanternfly infestation and be able to identify their eggs, as adults begin laying in September.
See More: How to Deal With Mold in Your Home + Who to Call
Signs of an Infestation May Include:
- Sap oozing or weeping from open wounds on tree trunks, which appear wet and give off fermented odors.
- One-inch-long egg masses that are brownish-gray, waxy, and mud-like when new. Old egg masses are brown and scaly.
- Massive honeydew build-up under plants, sometimes with black sooty mold developing.
- If you see a spotted lanternfly somewhere other than New York or New Jersey, contact your state’s agriculture department.
“It will take a combined effort to help keep this pest from spreading,” New Jersey Department of Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher shared in a statement.
To report a sighting, use the reporting tool or call 833-4BADBUG (833-422-3284). For other questions, email SLF-plantindustry@ag.nj.gov. The DOA also encourages you to destroy the bug and any nest if spotted.
