The New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Agriculture and Markets (DAM) are encouraging New Yorkers, including St. Lawrence County residents, to look for and report sightings of the spotted lanternfly (SLF), a new invasive threat.

SLF was first found in Pennsylvania in 2014, and efforts to detect the invasive pest have increased after a single, dead SLF adult was found in New York in the fall of 2017.

“DEC and our partners at the Department of Agriculture and Markets are closely tracking the spotted lanternfly, a destructive invasive pest, as part of our ongoing efforts to prevent its establishment and spread in New York. This pest has the potential to severely impact our forests, as well as our state’s agricultural and tourism industries,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said.

SLF is an invasive pest from Asia that feeds on more than 70 plant species including tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), maples, apple trees, grapevine, and hops. SLF feedings can stress plants, making them vulnerable to disease and attacks from other insects. SLF also excretes large amounts of sticky “honeydew,” which attracts sooty molds that interfere with plant photosynthesis, negatively affecting the growth and fruit yield of plants.

Although native insects also secrete honeydew, the size of the SLF and the populations of this pest that congregate in an area result in large accumulations of honeydew. The sticky mess and the swarms of insects it attracts can significantly hinder outdoor activities. In Pennsylvania, where SLF populations are the densest, people can’t go outside without getting honeydew on their hair, clothes, and other belongings.

SLF nymphs, or young insects, are black with white spots and turn red before transitioning into adults. Adults, which resemble moths, begin to appear in July and are approximately one-inch long and half an inch wide at rest, with eye-catching wings. Signs of an SLF infestation include:

Sap oozing or weeping from tiny open wounds on tree trunks, which appear wet and give off fermented odors;

One-inch long egg masses that are brownish-gray, waxy and mud-like when new. Old egg masses are brown and scaly; and

Massive honeydew build-up under plants, sometimes with black sooty mold.

While the insect can jump and fly short distances, these pests spread primarily through human activity. SLF lay their eggs on surfaces including vehicles, stone, rusty metal, outdoor furniture, and firewood. When these items are moved, the insects can hitch rides to new areas and therefore be easily transported into New York.

DEC and DAM encourage the public to be on the lookout for and report this pest. Send pictures and note the location of where the insect, egg masses, and/or infestation signs were found, to spottedlanternfly@dec.ny.gov. Inspect outdoor items such as vehicles and firewood for egg masses. If visiting Pennsylvania or other states with SLF, check equipment and gear before leaving and scrape off any egg masses.