STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Environmental experts are urging residents to destroy the egg masses left by the spotted lanternfly to greatly reduce the population of the invasive pests this year -- so it might be time for a different kind of egg hunt.
The destruction of each egg mass can remove up to 50 insects from this year’s population. But the female lanternflies are selective when laying their eggs, in an effort to protect them from winter weather. So you might find them in a few surprising locations.
Wildly blamed for damaged trees across the South and West shores of Staten Island in the past two years, and confirmed to be an active infestation last summer by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, spotted lanternflies will be active again soon, environmental experts warn.
The insects have spent the winter, or “overwinter,’’ as eggs.
So now is the time to find and destroy those egg masses around your property and in parks, according to Chris Logue, director of plant industry for the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Since the lanternflies, native to southeast Asia, have already established a population on the Island, and the insects have seemed to be producing at an alarming rate in recent years, removing egg masses will keep the numbers down when the eggs eventually hatch, Logue said.
But where should you look?
The egg masses look a lot like mud. You’ll find them on tree trunks, on branches, and they’re often, unfortunately, above reach.
The trees most preferred for laying eggs are red maples, silver maples and willows, according to the College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State University. The pests prefer to lay their eggs in protected locations and on surfaces that are angled toward the ground or horizontal.
Some additional places you might find the eggs are:
- Wood fencing
- Decks
- Rocks
- Outdoor sheds
- Metal objects like grills
- Mailboxes
- Under patio tables and chairs
- Fire pits
- Trailers
- Yard and farm equipment
- Vehicles
The state agriculture department is taking the lead on lanternflies in New York, and encourages Staten Islanders to destroy the eggs whenever possible.
They should be scraped from the surface with a putty knife, placed into a plastic bag and covered with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.
Studies conducted by the Penn State have revealed that paraffinic and/or mineral oils are also effective in killing treated eggs.
And, when the weather does warm and the nymphs begin to hatch, be careful not to unwittingly take a few tiny hitchhikers along for the ride.
A recent study published in the journal “Scientific Reports’' has found that the spread of the destructive, annoying pest is largely due to “human-mediated dispersal.’’
“Spotted lanternflies can spread quickly into suitable habitat and have the potential to cause significant economic damage to crops and hardwood trees,” Tara Trammell, an associate professor of urban forestry at the University of Delaware, told UD Daily, a marketing publication for the school. “Studying potential dispersal mechanisms, such as human transportation, can help us develop management approaches to reduce further spread.”