(bright music)
- [Instructor] Have you heard
of the Spotted Lanternfly?
If you live along the east
coast, you probably have.
The Spotted Lanternfly
is an invasive species
native to certain parts of Asia
that feeds on over 70 different plants,
especially Ailanthus altissima,
otherwise known as the Tree of Heaven.
These unwelcome guests
are more than just a nuisance to plants.
They pose a substantial threat
to Pennsylvania's hardwood exports,
apples, peaches, grapes, wine, and beer.
According to a Penn State report,
they could drain Pennsylvania's economy
of at least $324 million annually.
The life cycle of the
Lanternfly starts in late spring
when the eggs hatches nips.
They cannot fly and swiftly hop,
climbing trees to feed on
more tender plant growth.
As they develop, they become bright red
adding to their natural black
markings and white spots.
In summer, they shed their exoskeleton
and grow into adults with wings.
Spotted Lanternflies cannot bite
and have piercing sucking mouth parts,
which are designed for plant feeding.
They wound trees to eat tree
sap and excrete honeydew,
a sticky sugary substance that
encourages sooty mold fungi.
This will attract wasps and other insects.
The long-term health of the
infested tree is damaged
and the surrounding
plants are also at risk.
In early fall, the
females begin to lay eggs
in rows on any surface.
One Lanternfly can lay at
least one to two egg masses
that contain 30 to 50 eggs each.
Most of the eggs are
covered in a white secretion
that turns to mud color
and eventually cracks.
Eradicating this invasive
species is a monumental task.
There are no natural predators here
to truly help deplete
the growing population.
It is up to us as a
community to take action.
Penn State offers many
resources for homeowners
to combat their growth on your property.
Together, we can make a difference
in containing this destructive pest.
Thanks for watching.
(bright music)
