NORTHAMPTON — An infestation of the invasive insect known as the spotted lanternfly has been confirmed in Northampton by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive sap-feeding insect native to Asia that was first found in the United States in 2014, in Pennsylvania.
Since then, this insect has been unintentionally spread to other states in many ways, including hitchhiking on vehicles, nursery stock, and sheds and other outdoor equipment.
Massachusetts’ first known infestation of the spotted lanternfly, referred to by some officials and organizations as SLF, was found in 2021.
“SLF threatens several agricultural crops that are really important to the Valley, including grapes, hops and young fruit trees,” said Northampton Office of Planning and Sustainability Assistant Director Sarah LaValley. “We wanted to spread the word that they have been found in Northampton and raise awareness about what they look like in different life stages, and how to potentially avoid further spread.”
LaValley noted that the spotted lanternfly threatens many native plants, including crops and agricultural products that are critical to the Valley. Hops, maple, grape vines, apples and peaches are all at-risk.
The spotted lanternfly does not bite, sting or otherwise harm people or pets, they are threats to agriculture. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources states in its management guide for infested areas that if you are in an area with a known infestation of the spotted lanternfly to check your property and its favorite host plants, tree-of-heaven and grape.
The management guide also states to consider setting up traps, hiring someone to treat for the insect, or if removing a tree-of-heaven on your property is possible.
A hard freeze will kill adult lanternflies, but their egg masses will survive to hatch the following spring. The egg masses are flat, gray masses about an inch long. They are usually covered with a gray or beige waxy coating, and containing rows of tiny eggs. These can be found on trees or any other flat or smooth surface outdoors.
Adults should be squashed, and egg masses should be scraped into a plastic bag or container that contains rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer. This time of year, the adult version of the spotted lanternfly is frequenting the area. This phase of the insects life cycle makes for a 1-inch long insect with grayish wings with black spots, and a set of hindwings underneath marked with a large red patch.
LaValley added for those looking to learn more on this invasive species and how to combat them, information is available at massnrc.org/pests/pestFAQsheets/spottedlanternfly.html and mass.gov/spotted-lanternfly.
State efforts continue on dealing with the spotted lanternfly’s emergence in Massachusetts as the Department of Agricultural Resources has a team of inspectors monitoring high risk pathways, surveying areas where the insect has been found, and responding to reports from the public.
When a new population is found, these teams carefully survey the area to determine the extent of the infestation.
“State resources are limited, but for certain high-priority infestations, MDAR may assist with management efforts, including monitoring, pesticide treatments, tree removals, and/or training of property owners to prevent SLF from leaving the area,” MDAR states in its management guide for spotted lanternflies. “Even if we cannot fully eradicate spotted lanternfly, slowing the spread of this pest allows more time to develop better management methods, and gives us the chance to lower the impact if SLF becomes established throughout Massachusetts.”
To report sightings, visit massnrc.org/pests/slfreport.aspx.
According to the MDAR Invasive Pest Dashboard, Northampton is not the only Western Massachusetts community to have sightings of the lanternfly, as over 10 communities in the region have reported sightings, including Westfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield, and Longmeadow.
