Eastern Pennsylvania’s trees are under attack, and Pennsylvania needs your help to stop the damage. For the past five years, 14 counties in Eastern Pennsylvania have been dealing with an onslaught of spotted lanternflies, particularly predominant in the spring and in the summer, that damages trees and causes problems for residents. Here’s a bit about the spotted lanternfly in Pennsylvania, including what to immediately do if you see them.

The spotted lanternfly made its first appearance in 2014, eventually spreading to 14 counties throughout Eastern Pennsylvania.

Flickr/USGS Bee Inventory However, the invasive species generally originates in Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam, according to the PA Department of Agriculture.

Today, Pennsylvania is actively encouraging citizens, when they see spotted lanternflies, to kill them to help prevent the spread of these destructive insects.

Flickr/U.S. Department of Public Agriculture (Public Domain)

Spotted lanternflies cause extreme damage to trees and vines by sucking the sap out of them. Other damages caused by the destructive insects include wilting and curling of leaves and the process of “dieback.”

Flickr/U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public Domain) Twigs and branches begin to die, because of the spotted lanternflies, which is called dieback. The trees sometimes die as a result.

Nature isn’t the only one to deal with the pesky insects. If you live in one of the counties that’s had confirmed instances of the spotted lanternfly, you may have noticed a film of honeydew covering your outdoor belongings.

Flickr/U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public Domain)

Spring and summer are both bad for the insects. However, fall is also a dangerous time, when the spotted lanternflies lay between 30 and 50 eggs at a time.

Flickr/U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public Domain)

Spotted lanternflies threaten the state of agriculture in Pennsylvania and are downright annoying for Pennsylvanians. They appear in swarms in neighborhoods, pestering residents, and damaging trees.

Flickr/U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public Domain)

The spotted lanternfly spans, according to the PA Department of Agriculture, only an inch long. Check out the picture below, so you know how to identify one.

Flickr/U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public Domain)

The PA Department of Agriculture asks you to do a few things if you see a spotted lanternfly. First and foremost, kill it. You can easily kill one by smashing it or doing whatever works best for you.

Flickr/U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public Domain)

Once you’ve killed the spotted lanternflies, report them to the PA Department of Agriculture by calling 1-888-4BADFLY. You can also click here to report your sighting online.

Flickr/U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public Domain) Find an egg mass of spotted lanternflies? Kill them, too.

Unfortunately, the spotted lanternfly has spread beyond Eastern Pennsylvania into neighboring states including Delaware, New Jersey, and even Virginia.

Flickr/U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public Domain)

Click here for more information from the PA Department of Agriculture.

Flickr/U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public Domain)

Have you seen the spotted lanternfly in Pennsylvania? Share your experience in the comments! Soon, we’ll be turning our attention to the cold, snowy days of winter. Click here for the Old Farmers’ Almanac’s Predictions for Pennsylvania for winter 2019-2020.

Flickr/USGS Bee Inventory

However, the invasive species generally originates in Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam, according to the PA Department of Agriculture.

Flickr/U.S. Department of Public Agriculture (Public Domain)

Flickr/U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public Domain)

Twigs and branches begin to die, because of the spotted lanternflies, which is called dieback. The trees sometimes die as a result.

Find an egg mass of spotted lanternflies? Kill them, too.

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