Tag Archives: invasive

Photograph of cryptic spotted lanternfly egg masses

The river birches at the Morris Arboretum in Chestnut Hill, PA, were loaded hundreds or perhaps thousands of spotted lanternfly egg masses, all of them amazingly camouflaged. Can you find them on the trunk below? Click on the photograph to view a larger version.

Cryptic spotted lanternfly egg masses on river birch

In addition to trees, spotted lanternflies can oviposit on a variety of artificial surfaces such as shipping containers, cars, trains, and garden tools. Their fondness for hard, smooth surfaces means that humans unwittingly transport them across state lines.

Here are the locations of the egg masses.

Cryptic spotted lanternfly egg masses on river birch

More photographs of spotted lanternflies are on my SmugMug account. Please also see my post, “Spotted lanternfly control tips“, for details on how to kill eggs, nymphs, and adults.

Spotted lanternfly photographs

I’ve posted a few pics of the invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) on Instagram but thought I’d feature my full collection in a post. The insect is extremely photogenic but it’s also good to let people know what different stages look like so that everyone can kill them. I still need some early-instar pics as well as some showing spotted lanternflies being consumed by parasites and fungi.

Adult showing colorful underwings. Presumably to advertise toxicity to predators. Binky Lee Preserve, Chester Springs, PA.
Gravid female. John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, Tinicum, PA.
Egg mass on a tree. The surface is a waxy substance that covers several rows of eggs. John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, Tinicum, PA.
Third-instar nymph. Goshen Trail, Newtown Square, PA.
Three adults on a tree. Trees can have thousands. Binky Lee Preserve, Chester Springs, PA.
Sap oozing from feeding site wound. Ailanthus tree. Rose Tree Park, Media, PA.
Slick at base of Ailanthus tree caused by dripping honeydew (sugary excrement). Rose Tree Park, Media, PA.
Adult caught in spider web. Hildacy Preserve, Media, PA.

Below is a map showing the distribution of spotted lanternflies in North America as of October 3rd, 2019. Here’s a current map. To add a sighting, please sign up for iNaturalist (free) and post a photograph.

Here’s what the distribution is likely to be in the future (per Wakie et al. 2019):