Now is the Time to Destroy Spotted Lanternfly Eggs and Report Your Efforts

The spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, now found in portions of 5 counties in SE Pennsyllvania (Berks, Bucks, Chester, Lehigh, and Montgomery) lays egg masses of 30-50 eggs wherever there's a flat surface. Any smooth-trunked tree, stone, or vertical smooth surface can provide a potential host for eggs masses. Man-made items like vehicles, campers, yard furniture, or any other items stored outside and easily transported, are suitable sites for egg laying and help it spread quickly.

Therefore, a general quarantine over any area found to harbor the spotted lanternfly means that any material or object that can spread the pest cannot be moved. For the most current quarantine information visit the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Spotted Lanternfly site.

People can reduce the populations of spotted lanternfly on their properties by killing the overwintering eggs. Residents of the infested area are encouraged to inspect their trees and other objects for spotted lanternfly egg masses, and destroy them before they hatch.  Experts expect the eggs will start to hatch in early May, so late March through April is a great time to do this.

• How to scrape and destroy eggs
• For a longer discussion and tips to identify egg masses, see the first part of this video done in cooperation with PA senator Judy Schwank.
• If you successfully destroy spotted lanternfly egg masses, please report your efforts to the PA Department of Agriculture. This information is important to help continue the eradication effort and also for research to know where high populations are being found.