To help the Department identify the extent of the established population in the area, the Department is urging grape growers and residents to report any sightings by visiting agriculture.ny.gov/reportslf. (Photo: USDA, Public domain)
ALBANY — The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets today announced that it has detected Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) in the grape-growing region of the Finger Lakes. Department inspectors from the Division of Plant Industry confirmed the presence of SLF in Romulus following reports it received from its partners at the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program at Cornell University. To help the Department identify the extent of the established population in the area, the Department is urging grape growers and residents to report any sightings by visiting agriculture.ny.gov/reportslf.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “We have been working with our partners for years to contain SLF and slow the spread of this invasive species. With this new detection, we are certainly concerned as SLF is known to feed on plants and crops that are critical to New York’s agricultural economy, such as grapevine, which is abundant in this area of the Finger Lakes. However, we are also optimistic that through education, a number of control methods, and with the public’s help, we will be able to manage SLF and mitigate the impact to the grape growing industry.”
Since the first detection of SLF in New York on Staten Island in 2020, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has been working closely with its partners statewide, such as New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Department of Transportation, Thruway Authority, the United States Department of Agriculture, Cornell University and its IPM Program, and the Cornell Cooperative Extension network to slow the spread of this invasive insect. It has since been reported in all New York City boroughs, Long Island, and several areas in Upstate New York; however, this is the first detection in proximity to commercial vineyards in the Finger Lakes.
DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said, “DEC is working with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and our federal, state, and local partners to investigate this detection and work rapidly to mitigate the impacts of this new infestation. Public awareness and stewardship are essential to our efforts to manage the spread of Spotted Lanternfly, including destroying adults and eggs whenever and wherever they are encountered, in order to protect our vital agriculture, tourism, and recreation industries.”
Sam Filler, Executive Director of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, said, “The Spotted Lanternfly poses a significant threat to the future of the grape industry in New York. Since 2020, the New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF), in collaboration with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, the United States Department of Agriculture, Cornell University, and elected officials, has been preparing for the potential spread of SLF into New York’s vineyards. NYWGF commends the efforts of both state and federal governments to be ready for this situation, as well as the research conducted by Cornell University to control the spread of SLF.”
Brian Eshenaur, Senior Extension Associate, New York State Integrated Pest Management at Cornell University, said, “We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets on the detection and follow up with this new find in the Finger Lakes. With this news, I encourage everyone to remain vigilant for Spotted Lanternfly and report any sightings. Early detection is crucial as it allows producers in the area to prepare for managing this new invasive species.”
Hans Walter-Peterson, Senior Viticulture Extension Specialist at Cornell Cooperative Extension, said, “While we have anticipated the appearance of Spotted Lanternfly in the Finger Lakes grape growing region for several years, its arrival is still concerning because of its potential impact to the health and productivity of our vineyards. Fortunately, we have access to extensive resources from Cornell, Penn State, New York’s IPM Program, and other organizations, which will help us provide growers with the best possible information on managing and minimizing the effects of SLF. Although this isn’t welcome news, I am confident that the Finger Lakes will remain a world-class grape and wine region despite the presence of this new pest.”
Over the next few weeks, the Department will be conducting a thorough survey in Romulus and the surrounding area. It also encourages grape growers and residents to report any sightings to the Department by following these steps:
- take a photo,
- collect a sample and place it in a freezer or in a jar with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer,
- contact the SLF responders and report SLF directly at agriculture.ny.gov/reportslf, and
- after reporting SLF in your area and collecting a sample, kill any additional SLF you see by stepping on it or crushing it.
The Department is also urging any travelers to the area to thoroughly inspect vehicles, luggage and gear, and all outdoor items for SLF. If SLF adults are found, travelers should report and destroy them.
Residents can use at-home control methods to help manage SLF on their properties. Examples include:
- Traps: Sticky band traps encircling the trunk can be effective, but they must be accompanied by a barrier, such as a wire mesh or screen, to prevent the capture of beneficial insects and animals, such as birds.
- Circle traps: Circle traps consist of screening that encircles the trunk of a tree, which funnels climbing SLF into a container at the top from which they cannot escape. Watch a video on how to build a circle trap here: extension.psu.edu/how-to-build-a-spotted-lanternfly-circle-trap.
- Insecticides: Since SLF rarely cause damage to landscape trees, treatment is not necessary for the health of the tree; but if they become a nuisance, insecticides can be used. Residents may choose to hire a certified applicator who is equipped to use methods such as tree injection, bark sprays, or soil drenches.
- Vacuum removal: Hand-held, backpack style rechargeables and even big shop vacuums all can be useful in managing SLF.
For more information and photos on these control methods, please visit the Cornell IPM website at: cals.cornell.edu/new-york-state-integrated-pest-management/outreach-education/whats-bugging-you/spotted-lanternfly/spotted-lanternfly-management#biocontrol
Identifying SLF
SLF is a destructive pest that feeds on more than 100 plant species, including tree-of-heaven, and plants and crops that are critical to New York’s agricultural economy, such as grapevine, apple trees, and hops. It is currently in the nymph stage, with black bodies and white spots, and, as it matures, will turn red with white spots. SLF will enter the adult stage later in July/August. Adult SLF are easy to identify and are approximately one inch long and half an inch wide at rest, with eye-catching wings. Photos of both the nymph and adult phases can be seen here.
Adults are active from July to December and begin laying eggs in September. Signs of an SLF infestation may include:
- One-inch-long egg masses that are brownish-gray, waxy and mud-like when new. Old egg masses are brown and scaly.
- Massive honeydew build-up under plants, sometimes with black sooty mold developing.
While these insects can jump and fly short distances, they spread primarily through human activity. SLF can lay their eggs on any number of surfaces, such as vehicles, stone, rusty metal, outdoor furniture, and firewood. Adult SLF can hitch rides in vehicles, on any outdoor item, or cling to clothing or hats, and be easily transported into and throughout New York, so residents are asked to be vigilant.
SLF Impacts to New York Agriculture
SLF feeding 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 and negatively impacting agriculture and forest health.
The estimated total economic impact of invasive insects in the United States exceeds $70 billion per year, and if not contained, SLF could have an impact to New York State of at least $300 million annually, mainly to the grape and wine industry, which ranks third in the country in production. SLF also has the potential to significantly hinder quality of life and recreational activities due to the honeydew and the swarms of insects it attracts.
Learn more on the Department’s website at https://agriculture.ny.gov/spottedlanternfly.
Additional information about preventing the spread of terrestrial invasive species can be found on DEC’s website.
–NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets