WCN April 2020 Draft E

SLF eggs laid on a wooden pallet (photo courtesy L. Cheung.)
Spotted lanternfly nymphs (photo courtesy Stephen Ausmus, USDA ARS)
of trees and plants. They can hitchhike
on packages or vehicles, but are able to
move three to four miles on their own.
Egg masses, juveniles and adults can be
found on trees and other plants as well
as bricks, stone, metal or other smooth
surfaces.
“WE DON’T
WANT THIS PEST
TO BECOME
ESTABLISHED
HERE. ALL IT
TAKES IS ONE
EGG MASS TO GO
UNNOTICED."
--SURENDRA DARA, UCCE
knock down infestations.
Studies in Pennsylvania have found
two naturally occurring fungal pathogens
controlling SLF. One (Batkoa major)
cannot be cultured and would be
only a natural microbial control agent.
Multiple commercial formulations of
the other fungus (Beauveria bassiana)
are available for use.
Dara said anyone encountering
an SLF egg mass should contact their
county agricultural commissioner’s
office.
“We don’t want this pest to become
established here. All it takes is one egg
mass to go unnoticed,” Dara said.
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WE sort THEM ALL
Signs of a SLF infestation can be
detected by inspecting plants. This pest
tends to gather in large groups at dusk
and at night. One of their preferred
hosts is the invasive tree of heaven. Egg
masses laid on tree trunks or other
surfaces can be camouflaged as the
female SLF covers her eggs with a white
putty-like substance that becomes
pinkish gray as it dries. Weeks later, the
covering will look like a patch of mud.
Biological controls for long term
management of this invasive pest is
preferred, Dara said, but pesticides are
available for short term control or to
Walnut Almond Cashew Hazelnut Pistachio Pecans Peanuts
Insects Shell fragments Rubber Wood Glass fragments
www.insort-inc.com
Metal
April 2020 www.wcngg.com 79