Spotted lanternfly
SLF is an invasive planthopper that threatens several major
agriculture crops in the U.S. including grape, orchard,
stone fruit, and hops. In the urban forest, it feeds on a
variety of tree species including red maple (Acer rubrum);
its preferred host is Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima).
SLF is unlikely to kill urban trees, but it damages plants by
sucking sap from trunks, stems, and branches as well as by
depositing a sticky residue that leads to mold growth. This
weakens the plant, which makes it more susceptible to
stressors such as extreme cold, drought, and other insect
pests. In collaboration with researchers at Oregon State
University, the USA-NPN released a new set of Pheno
Forecast maps for SLF in spring 2024. Highlights include:
• Forecasts are available for both egg
hatch and adult emergence.
• Forecasts are available for the entire year, allowing
you to anticipate when the events are likely to occur
several months in the future. As the year progresses
and the window of activity passes, the map shifts
to indicate the date when the event occurred.
• Maps exclude regions where tempera-
tures are predicted to be too hot or too
cold for the species to persist. >>
Spotted lanternfly specimen with red rear wings
showing by PA Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org
Spotted lanternfly at rest by Emelie Swackhamer,
Penn State University, Bugwood.org
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