CAI-NJ December 2021

SPOTTED LANTERNFLY... from page 50.

(right) SLF Nymphs on their favorite host — “Tree of Heaven.” (below) a Spotted Lanternfly

dents report not being able to be outside without getting honeydew on their hair, clothes and belongings.

Spotted Lanternfly Lifecycle Knowing their life cycle can help us know what to look for at the right time. Lanternfly eggs hatch late April through early May, so being able to identify what egg masses look like and destroying them on sight is an important control tactic. Go to the NJ Dept. of Agriculture website to view photos of the egg masses and other life stages. The eggs hatch into nymphs that are black with white spots in May. As they grow they eventually change to red in color. They emerge as adults in July into August, approx- imately 1” long and 1/2” wide, with black-spotted grey wings. Adult females lay egg masses in late fall on trees or nearby flat surfaces like patio furniture, vehicles and other structures. Newly laid egg masses have a grey mud-like covering which can take on a dry cracked appearance over time. What can be done to save our association trees and protect residents from Spotted Lanternfly? • FIRST STEP — If you are concerned about the impact that this pest will have in your association or suspect that the Spotted Lanternfly may already be present, contact an arborist who is a New Jersey Licensed Tree Expert (LTE), to come out and perform a thorough inspection of the trees and plants to determine if this pest is present and how serious is the infestation. You can search the directory of LTE’s to find an arborist at the following website - https://njtreeexperts.org. • LEARN — it is important to learn what the Spotted Lanternfly looks like since this is a new pest to all of us and it will help you to identify it on your community’s trees, shrubs and outside living areas. It is equally important to be able to identify their favorite ‘host’ tree in your commu- nity – the ‘Tree of Heaven’. Photos and other important reference information is available at the NJ Department of Agriculture’s website.*

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• TAKE ACTION TO CONTROL SLF - the follow- ing steps can be employed to help your association take preventative actions with the presence of Spotted Lanternfly in your community: 1. Proactive treatments by arborists who are NJ Licensed Pesticide Applicators with specialized contact and/or systemic insecticides through soil application, and/or trunk sprays. 2. Removal of any wild invasive ‘Tree of Heaven’ trees along your community’s borders that may be hosts to the Spotted Lanternfly. A NJ Licensed Tree Expert can identify these trees for you. “Tree of Heaven” is their preferred host tree. 3. If you see Spotted Lanternfly nymphs or adults in your com- munity, the NJDA asks that you collect a specimen and/ or take a picture and report it to the NJDA by emailing SLF-plantindustry@ag.nj.gov or calling 1-833-223-2840 (BADBUG0). 4. For individual homeowners in the association, if they want, they can spot spray nymphs and/or adults that may be on their patios, outdoor furniture and plants with most insecti- cides that can be purchased at garden centers. 5. Early detection is vital for the protection of your trees, and plants and the quality of life in your community. Therefore become educated on this pest and make use of profes- sionals who can help your association develop appro- priate strategies. n

* https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/pi/prog/pests-diseases/spotted-lanternfly/ (NJ Dept. of Agriculture’s website).

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