Invasive insect may move into Hancock County

The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a new non-native invasive insect pest to the United States. It is thought to be native to China, Japan, Vietnam and Taiwan. However, it has been reported as a serious non-native, invasive pest in Korea. In the United States, it was first discovered in 2014 in southeastern Pennsylvania and likely brought to the United States by imported woody plants, wood products, and other commodities. Since then, it has spread along the east coast and westward to Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. The Spotted lanternfly has the potential to cause harm to trees, grapes, apples and hops. The Spotted lanternfly is not a fly, but a large, sap-feeding planthopper that feeds from the phloem tissue of host plants. Many people mistakenly believe it is a small butterfly when its wings are extended. They have four wings and a piercing-sucking mouthpart that is used to pierce their food source and suck out the fluids. Adults measure approximately 1 inch long and ½ inch wide at rest, and 1½ to 2 inches wide with wings spread. The front wings are a translucent gray with black spots, transitioning to a black tiled pattern at the tips. The hind wings are red with patches of black and white. When at rest, the forewings lay tent-like over the body. The red coloration of the hindwing shows through, resulting in a pinkish appearance with black spots. Images may be found at https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/plant-health/invasive-pests/invasive-insects/slf The spotted lanternfly has a one-year lifecycle. Adults lay eggs in late fall through the first freeze. Eggs are laid on host plants or any flat surface in clusters of 30-50 eggs arranged in 4-7 columns of aligned, seed-like eggs. These columns of eggs, measuring approximately one inch in length, are covered in a mud-like substance by the female. This coating begins as a light gray but darkens and cracks with age. First hatch begins in late April to early May. The juveniles that emerge from the eggs are called nymphs. These nymphs are about ¼ inch long and resemble a black tick with white spots. After the third molt, about mid-summer, nymphs will be ¾ inch long and their color will change to red with white dots and black stripes. By late summer nymphs will molt into adults. Adults will have wings and the ability to reproduce. As winged adults, they are weak flyers but prefer jumping. They move into new areas quickly by hopping onto transportation vehicles and by people who move infested materials or those containing egg masses. Adults mate in early fall and lay eggs for overwintering to start a new cycle the following spring. Nymphs feed on a wide range of plants. Adults also feed on several host plants; however, their food of choice is the tree-of-heaven, but will also feed on grapevine, fruit trees, hops, oak, pine, poplar and walnut. The spotted lanternfly uses its piercing mouthparts like a straw to suck plant sap from the phloem tissue of trunks and branches of trees, shrubs and vines. Adults and nymphs can congregate and feed in mass. This feeding reduces the vigor and the overall health of the plant. Grapevine is considered the most vulnerable crop to economic losses from SLF. The loss in vigor of the vines increases susceptibility to winter injury, reduced fruit set and premature death. Feeding by SLF also create sweet sap that occurs in feeding wounds. The sap is attractive to other insects that are unwelcomed in the yard such as hornets, yellow jackets, flies and ants. They also excrete a sugary waste called honeydew. Honeydew as a food source, attracts other insects to the area and promotes the growth of fungus, such as black sooty mold, which discolors plants in the landscape and makes them unattractive. Spotted lantern flies continue to spread in Ohio since it was first detected in Jefferson County in October 2020. Counties that have a reproducing population have been placed under quarantine by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. These include Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lorain, Lucas, Mahoning and Muskingum. A quarantine county has increased inspections and restrictions on moving certain items particularly with commercial enterprises such as nurseries, loggers, and arborists. The public is encouraged to inspect vehicles and outdoor gear before leaving a SLF county and take precautions moving firewood, logs, tree branches and plants. Fortunately, no reproducing population has been found in Hancock County. A single adult was found in 2021 from the northern part of the county but it may have been a hitchhiker on a train or car that decided to hop off while passing through the county (no egg masses were laid). However, the risk for a population to become established in Hancock County has increased since a large amount of traffic moves through our area between Toledo and Columbus and populations have been identified in Lucas and Franklin counties. So, now is the time to become familiar with this destructive pest, scout plants, particularly tree-of-heaven, and prevent it from becoming established in the county. If you suspect that you may have seen SLF in the area, please contact the Hancock County Extension Office at 419/422-3851 or email lentz.38@osu.edu Lentz is agriculture and natural resources educator with Ohio State Extension Office — Hancock County.