It’s time to turn the lights out on the Spotted Lanternfly in Cranberry Township!
The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive planthopper native to Asia first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014. They feed on sap from a myriad of plants and prefer those important to Pennsylvania's economy including grapevines, maples, black walnut, birch, and willow. The industries associated with these plants contribute billions of dollars each year to the economy.
SLF's feeding damage stresses plants which can decrease their health and in some cases cause death. SLF excrete honeydew, a sugary waste that attracts bees, wasps and other insects and this waste builds up on any surface below the SLF. The build-up of waste also leads to the growth of sooty mold and black-colored fungi.
What can a resident do?
Any efforts in destroying the Spotted Lanternfly or its' egg masses help reduce populations on properties and in communities.
- SLF can be controlled by a combination of:
- physical removal at any life stage
- removal of Tree-of-Heaven host trees
- pesticide applications
See something? Say something! The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture asks residents to report sightings. Learn more on how to report and get more information at extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly.