Boston has experienced a surge in invasive spotted lanternflies over the past month. Residents have spotted these lanternflies in many areas, including Millennium Park, Roslindale Village, and the Arnold Arboretum. The Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) recently stated that the insect has been detected in over 50 cities and towns across the state. It was first seen in Massachusetts in 2021.

Spotted lanternflies reach adulthood in August, with their activity peaking in September and October. The invasive insects damage trees by drinking their sap – after they feed, they produce a lot of sticky waste that can attract wasps and grow fungus. They feed on over 100 species of plants including maple, tree-of-heaven, birch, black walnut, sumac, and many more. The lanternflies do not feed on pine, spruce, or fir trees. They also damage and kill grapevines.

“This is the first year we’ve found them [spotted lanternflies] on the Arboretum’s property,” remarked Arnold Arboretum Arborist Delia Mahoney. “We have also been working with MDAR regarding the management and monitoring of the lanternflies.” Mahoney explained that their preferred host is the tree of heaven, which is a non-native, invasive plant in North America. They also tend to lay their eggs on maple trees.

Staff at the Arnold Arboretum have been closely monitoring the spotted lanternflies. “We’re looking out for nymphs or egg masses in the winter,” explained Arnold Arboretum Horticulturist Ryan Devlin. The adult lanternflies are easy to spot – they are roughly one inch long with bright red back wings and a bright yellow abdomen covered in black stripes. “According to the most current available research, the spotted lanternflies are not detrimental to the health of any of the mature trees at the Arnold Arboretum,” stated Devlin.

Advertisement

“When we work with invasive species, we follow the rules of Integrated Pest Management, or IPM,” explained Mahoney. "A lot of those principles include scouting and preventative action. The Arboretum is installing a new irrigation system that is going to keep the plants less stressed. We also mulch our plants and prune diseased and decayed wood on our trees.” The arborists also use tree bands, which are physical barrier bands placed around tree trunks to trap and stop crawling insects from reaching the canopy.

What should you do if you see a spotted lanternfly? If possible, take a photo and report it to MDAR here: massnrc.org/pests/slfreport.aspx. Squash and kill the insect – they are harmless to humans, but they can be quick and escape easily.

For more information regarding spotted lanternflies in Massachusetts, visit mass.gov/spotted-lanternfly.