Ask a Master Gardener:Be On the Lookout For the Spotted Lanternfly in Alabama
- Jennifer McDonald
- Jun 3
- 3 min read
By: Jack LeCroy, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Regional Agent, jml003@auburn.edu
A new invasive insect pest is making headlines across the eastern United States, and it is one Alabama residents need to be aware of. The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), originally from Asia, has been confirmed in neighboring Georgia. While it has not yet been found in Alabama, the proximity of recent detections means it is time for homeowners, gardeners, and outdoor enthusiasts to be on the lookout.
The spotted lanternfly was first detected in the United States in Pennsylvania in 2014, likely arriving via international trade. Since then, it has spread to multiple states, including New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, and now Georgia. Its rapid spread is due in part to its ability to lay eggs on a variety of surfaces. Some of those surfaces include vehicles, outdoor furniture, firewood, landscape supplies, and other items frequently transported across state lines.
This insect poses a serious threat to agriculture, forestry, and ornamental landscapes. It feeds by piercing plant tissue and sucking out sap, which weakens plants and leads to sooty mold growth, making fruit and ornamental plants unsightly and unmarketable. The spotted lanternfly’s favorite host is the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), an invasive tree common in disturbed urban and rural areas. However, it also feeds on more than 70 other plant species, including grapes, apples, hops, and various hardwood trees.
Research is still being conducted to understand all the plants it can feed on as it moves to different areas of the country. If established in Alabama, it could pose major challenges for vineyards, orchards, and backyard gardens alike.
Understanding the spotted lanternfly’s current life cycle can help with early detection. The life cycle timeline could be slightly different as we learn more and as it moves into more subtropical climates:
· Egg masses are laid in fall on flat surfaces and covered in a mudlike substance that hardens and camouflages the eggs. These can survive through winter.
Nymphs hatch in spring and go through four stages, starting black with white spots, then turning red with black and white patches.
Adults appear by late summer. They are about one inch long with gray wings and distinctive black spots. When they open their wings, the bright red hindwings are visible.
Adults feed and lay eggs from late summer through early winter.
Right now, in late spring through summer is the time to be on the lookout for nymphs, which are very small and active on a wide variety of plants. It is important for homeowners to be aware of what they are looking at and be able to identify them.
What Homeowners Should Watch For:
Egg masses on hard surfaces: rocks, tree trunks, fences, vehicles
Sooty mold and sticky residue (honeydew) on plants. Be mindful that sooty mold can be caused by many other insects.
Clusters of nymphs or adults feeding on the same tree or plant
Presence of tree of heaven, which can act as a beacon for lanternflies
Early detection is key. If you suspect you have found a spotted lanternfly or its eggs, take a photo and record the location. You can send photos to your local county Extension office or contact the Mobile County Extension Office at (251) 574-8445.
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