Spotted lanternfly started to hatch in New York at the end of April. The invasive species is expected to show up more in parts of the state this year and can be dangerous for some key New York crops.
Brian Eshenaur is a senior extension associate with the New York State Integrated Pest Management program. He focuses on the detection and management of invasive pests to protect New York’s agricultural, landscaped and natural environments and is keeping a close eye on the movement of the spotted lanternfly.
Eshenaur says:
“The first reports of spotted lanternfly egg hatch for this year came April 28 in NYC. They were first detected in the metro area and now reports of new hatch are in from Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley. The eggs rely on accumulated heat so the warmer areas of the state will be first to see the spotted lanternfly nymphs emerge from their egg masses.
“The newly emerged nymphs look nothing like the adult spotted lanternfly that have become a familiar sight to many. The young nymphs are jet black with pure white spots. These juvenile spotted lanternflies can’t fly and often go unnoticed due to their small size and their feeding habit of choosing fleshy plants closer to the ground. They continue to gain size over the next few months and will become the familiar winged adults beginning in July.
“As the population of spotted lanternfly continues to spread in NYS, this year we’re expecting to see higher populations in the lower Hudson Valley grape growing region. Cornell researchers and extension staff have been busy over the off-season preparing our vineyard managers to effectively monitor for and control this insect that can threaten the health of grapevines.”
