If You See A Spotted Lanternfly In Maryland, Squish Or Trap It

MARYLAND — If you happen to find a spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that feeds on more than 100 host plants until their leaves curl and wilt and render them vulnerable to fatal diseases, squish it and let Maryland agricultural officials know you did it.

With speckled light brown forewings and scarlet and black hind wings, they don't look like a menace, but agricultural officials are trying to stop these planthoppers before they spread into western states.

Spotted lanternflies, first discovered about a decade ago in Pennsylvania, are established in 14 states — Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia.

And they have been reported in several others, including Utah, California and Oregon, where dead lanternflies have been observed. It’s unclear if the pests naturally migrated there, or if they hitched a ride on products like landscaping plants, firewood and other products that move across the country.

The threat to trees and the industries they support is so severe that public officials are outright telling people to squish adult lanternflies on the spot — before they can deposit their egg masses.

“Harming our city's wildlife is prohibited, but in an effort to slow the spread of this troublesome species, we are putting out a one-time call: If you see a spotted lanternfly, please squish and dispose of this invasive pest,” the New York City Parks Department said last summer.

Adult lanternflies begin emerging in July and can be found through December, according to Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

If you find a spotted lanternfly, snap a photo, file a report with state officials, and then kill the bug. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says most states are at risk, and timely reports are the best way to eradicate the insects before they become even more invasive.

Right now, spotted lanternflies are in their adult stage (they have a three-stage lifecycle), and these prolific breeders are busy laying masses, which contain anywhere from 30-50 eggs.

Know what you’re looking for. While many photos show them with their wings unfolded, exposing their red-spotted under wings, that only happens when the insects are ready to take flight. It’s more common to see adults resting with their black-spotted, pinkish-tan wings folded over their backs. When females are carrying eggs, their abdomens swell to the point they can barely fly.

Monitoring Spotted Lanternfly In Maryland

On March 2023, the Maryland Department of Agriculture expanded its spotted lanternfly quarantine to include a total of 17 counties and the city of Baltimore. Those jurisdictions are: Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Washington and Wicomico counties, as well as Baltimore City.

The quarantine restricts the movement of regulated materials that might contain the spotted lanternfly in any of its life stages, including egg masses, nymphs, and adults.

“The spotted lanternfly continues to be a destructive invasive species that has negatively impacted agriculture operations throughout the mid-Atlantic region,” said MDA Secretary Kevin Atticks in a news release. “The department continues to take steps to expand the quarantine zone out of an abundance of caution as we remain vigilant in controlling the spread of this destructive insect.”

Examples of regulated articles under the quarantine order include landscaping, remodeling, or construction waste; packing materials like wood boxes or crates; plants and plant parts; vehicles; and other outdoor items.

In Maryland, spotted lanternflies have been reported since 2018 in Cecil County. The pest has spread to Harford County, and smaller populations have also been found in Baltimore City, and Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne, Wicomico, and Washington counties.

A quarantine order first issued by the secretary of agriculture three years ago for Harford and Cecil counties is still in effect, and was expanded in 2022 to include: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Kent, Montgomery and Washington counties, as well as Baltimore City.
A map of the quarantine zone is on the state agriculture's site.

Businesses, municipalities, and government agencies that move any regulated item within or from the quarantine zone must have a specialized permit. The permit may be obtained by taking a free online training course and exam through PennState Extension.

All spotted lanternfly permits for Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware are transferable and valid throughout the region, the ag department said.

If you can’t bring yourself to squish them, trap them.

New Jersey Patch collaborated with Duke Farms environmental experts to show readers how to make do-it-yourself lanternfly traps. (See the 11-minute step-by-step video below.)

You’ll need:

• 2 plastic 1-gallon milk or water jugs that can be cut with scissors
• 2 one-half-inch thick rubber bands
• 1 22-inch-long piece of 16-gauge metal wire
• 1 24-inch-by-36-inch plastic coated screen, such as a window screen replacement
• 1 2.5-gallon Ziplock bag
• 1 6-inch long piece of all-weather tape
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• All-natural string or twine