How to get rid of spotted lanterns

Spotted lantern is an invasive pest that has spread to the United States, South Korea and Japan. It is a leafhopper insect native to Vietnam, Taiwan and southern China. Since they are known to feed on over 70 host plant species, having it anywhere is a big deal. If you spot a spotted beetle feeding on fruit and woody trees, you definitely have a spotted lantern. Here are some surefire ways to get rid of pests so you can enjoy what nature has to offer again.

What is a spotted lantern fly

Before moving on to the spotted lantern destruction methods, you first need to know what it is and what it does to help you on your pest control mission.

This pretty but devastating beetle doesn’t bite or bite people or pets, so you don’t have to worry about how to treat reactions from it. Like some other pests, such as cockroaches, it spreads through people moving around with objects contaminated with eggs. It peaks in late summer and early summer when it undergoes a collective flight called swarming. It is during that short period of time that it disperses in the adult butterfly stage to feast on plants in large quantities.

In particular, it feeds on plant sap, including the celestial tree (Chinese sumac), grapevine, birch, willow, black walnut, maple, hops, grapes and stone fruits, which cost hundreds of millions of dollars a year. lost crop. Not only does it deplete plants’ energy sources, it also leaves behind a sweet liquid waste called honeydew that covers leaves and stems, attracts other insects, and encourages mold growth that looks black and soot. In addition, the destruction it leaves after several holes leads to further leakage of the plant sap. For small settlers or farmers, this is terrible.

The insect hatches from the egg mass like a nymph. The nymph stage has many immature phases, called age stages, and they are all wingless. After the first age, which is black with white spots, other ages have red spots with white spots. The latter instar has a red upper body and red wing buds, followed by molting into an adult form with a black head, grayish wings, and black spots. The first, second and third instars have a wide range of hosts, which eventually narrows.

The larvae hatch somewhere from late April to early May. Adults can appear as early as July, mate and lay eggs from late September to early winter. You can recognize spotted fireflies by egg mass, plant damage, mold growth, and plant death. The best time to find and destroy egg masses is from winter to early spring.

Fortunately, most people will notice a spotted lantern infestation before too much damage is done. Some of the main methods of killing a pest are through a natural process, using a homemade spray, or applying insecticides. Most importantly, you need to know how to properly control pests to prevent recurrence.

Ways to Get Rid of Spotted Lanterns

• We kill eggs and reduce the owners: This is the first and most important step to any other method. You must scrape the eggs off the surface of the plants, put them in the bag twice, and discard them. It is best if the bags contain alcohol or hand sanitizer that will kill the eggs. Next, you’ll want to remove most of its favorite host, Chinese sumac or sky tree. Leave male trees to trap pests and wrap duct tape over them, covering them with wire mesh or other type of wire to prevent the animals from being trapped, injured or killed.
• Naturally: Using natural spotted lantern fly predators is a great non-invasive way to control pests by exploiting their position in the food chain against them. So what kind of animals eat spotted lanterns? Gray feline birds, cats, dogs, ducks, chickens, wheel beetles, hornets, green frogs, fishing spiders, goldfish, koi and yellow jackets are known to hunt them. In fact, however, spotted lanterns have few natural predators in their environment and it is unlikely that you will have many of them, or be unable to find and transfer them to your land. What then is to be done? Cats, dogs, ducks, chickens, fishing spiders, wheel beetles and green frogs are your best bet. Consider buying green frogs and beneficial pest-eating insects. If you already have a cat, dog, ducks, or chickens going outside, you’re in luck and you only need to direct them to where the pests are.
• Homemade spray: While there are no approved home remedies, a homemade spray is another way to get rid of spotted lanterns naturally. With similar logic used to kill eggs, you must have a chemical that affects a huge number of people. White vinegar or neem oil in a spray bottle will kill them on contact. As well as a few drops of lavender, tea tree or peppermint essential oil added to the water. Dawn dish soap mixed in equal amounts with water or dish soap with neem oil and water is also effective against insects and eggs.
• Traps: An alternative to homemade spray are traps. The best traps are neem oil traps or dish soap mixed with vinegar in stone jars.
• Insecticide: When all else fails, you have to use an insecticide. You will need an insecticide that is the least toxic, which means it is registered with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) for effectiveness and safety. Wearing protective clothing and equipment, avoiding water sources, following instructions, using only the right amount, and protecting flowering plants and pollinators are all important for the correct use of insecticides. Additionally, many states have a list of insecticides they are registered for use, although they may not have to list spotted lanterns to legally use them for pest control.

Spotted fireflies are invasive pests that damage and even kill over 70 species of plants that they feed on, including flowers, vegetables, grains, and fruits. If you spot lanterns on your land, you will immediately understand how much damage they do and that they are difficult to kill. It is important to be able to dispose of them properly so that they do not come back. For the gardener or farmer, pest control is essential to the preservation of your plants. One or more of the aforementioned ways to do this, including naturally using a homemade spray or insecticide, are sure to help you eradicate the pest once and for all.

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