(WNY News Now) – New York – The Lake Erie grape region braces for impact as the invasive Spotted Lanternfly, notorious for its destructive feeding habits, moves closer.
The Lake Erie Regional Grape Program, in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension, New York State Integrated Pest Management, and Penn State Extension, has been educating grape growers and the community about the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) for nearly a decade. This invasive pest, first detected in southeast Pennsylvania in 2014, has now reached the Finger Lakes Region, specifically Romulus, NY.
With established populations in Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and various parts of New York State, the Lake Erie region is now at extremely high risk for infestation. Despite their poor flying abilities, these pests are adept hitchhikers, often transported by vehicles. They lay eggs on various surfaces, which can be unknowingly moved to new locations. It’s crucial to inspect vehicles, trailers, and equipment coming from infested areas to prevent further spread.
Spotted Lanternflies have a single life cycle per year. From July to August, they can be found in different stages, from the second instar to adults. The nymphs, around 3/4 inches in size, feed on green stems and woody areas, including grapevine trunks. SLFs are phloem feeders, using their piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract sap from plants and excreting a sticky substance called “honeydew,” which attracts other insects and promotes sooty mold growth. Adults, about an inch long, are most visible from mid-July until consistent cold weather sets in.
The Lake Erie Regional Grape Program has developed a pocket guide for identifying SLF at various life stages, available online. Community vigilance is essential in combating this pest. If SLF is suspected, individuals are encouraged to take a picture, kill the insect, and report the sighting for positive identification. Reports can be made through reportslf.com for New York or by calling 1-888-4 BAD FLY (1-888-422-3359) for Pennsylvania.
Senior Extension Associate Brian Eshenaur advises not to panic despite the recent SLF sighting in Romulus. While it’s unwelcome news, it’s not unexpected. Pennsylvania’s experience has better prepared the region to respond. Scouting for the Tree of Heaven, a favored host for SLF, and vigilant vineyard monitoring in September and October are critical.
With over 30,000 acres of grapes in the Lake Erie Region, it’s imperative to stay ahead of the Spotted Lanternfly to protect the vineyards from potential devastation. Senior Extension Associate Brian Eshenaur offers advice on the recent SLF sighting in Romulus:
- Don’t freak out. We’ve known this pest was coming and would eventually show up here, so while it isn’t welcome news, this isn’t a surprise. Thanks to the experiences and hard work of our friends in Pennsylvania, we are much better prepared to respond to the arrival of SLF. When a new population is found in area, especially a smaller one as this appears to be right now, it takes a year or two for the numbers to build to a point where they become a concern. At this point, we don’t anticipate that SLF will have a real impact on any vineyards this year.
- Be more active in scouting for Tree of Heaven if you haven’t done so already. Start scouting treelines around vineyard blocks to identify any Tree of Heaven (TOH). While SLF can feed on many different plants, they have a special relationship with TOH. It’s likely the first plant on which you will find SLF, and females can produce more offspring if they feed on TOH than if they don’t.
- Scouting vineyards in September and October for SLF is especially important, as this is when the spotted lanternfly adults move into vineyards from surrounding trees. Females will also be laying eggs on just about anything they find at that time.
If you find SLF nymphs (now) or adults (starting sometime in August), be sure to report them using the SLF Reporting Form, the Lake Erie Regional Grape Program team members to get the information to IPM or Ag & Markets.
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