See them, crush them: Invasive spotted lanternfly found in northern Indiana

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The invasive spotted lanternfly has been found in Huntington County this summer, according to a news release from Purdue University.

A year ago the pest was found in Switzerland County in southern Indiana. The migration north poses a significant risk to the state’s grape, orchard and logging industries.

According to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, spotted lanternflies are invasive and can be spread long distances by people who move infested material or items containing egg masses.

Spotted lanternfly egg masses are about an inch long and resemble a smear of mud. If found in an area known to have a spotted lanternfly population, residents should crush them and scrape them off.

Travelers passing through spotted lanternfly quarantine areas should thoroughly check their vehicles, trailers and clothes to avoid accidentally moving the spotted lanternfly from a quarantine area to somewhere new.

Signs And Symptoms

• Plants that ooze or weep and have a fermented odor.

• Buildup of sticky fluid, or honeydew, on plants and on the ground underneath infested plants.

• Sooty mold on infested plants

What Can You Do?

• Check outdoor items for spotted lanternfly egg masses, including those items you may bring indoors. Scrape any egg masses into a plastic zippered bag filled with hand sanitizer, then zip the bag shut and dispose of it properly.

• Inspect your trees and plants for signs of this pest, particularly at dusk and at night when the insects tend to gather in large groups on the trunks or stems of plants.

• Inspect trees — in particular, tree of heaven — bricks, stone, and other smooth surfaces for egg masses.

Elizabeth Long, assistant professor of horticulture crop entomology at Purdue, recommended learning to identify the life stages of the insect and to inspect plants often.

“Several of the insecticides grape growers currently use for other insect pests will also knock down the spotted lanternfly, so there is no need to make additional sprays as a preventative at this time,” Long said.

“Looking to next season, the same strategy is needed. Keeping an eye out for spotted lanternfly hitchhikers and avoiding moving items that are likely to accidentally move insects along are key.

“Spotted lanternfly populations feeding on wine grape vines can severely reduce winter hardiness or kill the crop all together.”

Brock Harpur, Purdue assistant professor of entomology, said beekeeping equipment can also provide the perfect spot for spotted lanternflies to lay eggs, allowing the insect to travel around the state.

“It is imperative for beekeepers to keep a careful eye out for signs of the spotted lanternfly in their area and on their equipment,” Harpur said.

“Should the spotted lanternfly become established in all parts of Indiana, it is expected that honeydew, the secretion that spotted lanternfly leave behind, will become part of our late-summer honey harvest.”

To report lanternfly sightings, contact the Indiana Department of Natural Resources at 866-NO EXOTIC, or 866-663-9684, or email DEPP@dnr.IN.gov.