Rutgers Master Gardeners of Burlington County Blog

By Merry Bogert This insect pest may arrive in Burlington County in the coming months .   Already in northern New Jersey counties and in Pennsylvania, the Spotted Lantern f ly is likely to arrive this summer. This blog series will cover topics from identifying the insect to how to control its spread, including limiting its impact on county residents. Signs of Infestation, Treatment and Control Efforts The signs of an active Spotted Lanternfly infestation include: a.     Seeing the egg masses themselves on host plants or nearby surfaces. b.     Seeing dark streaks of sap from weeping wounds on the bark of plants. (Note: the seepage may have a sour odor due to fermentation of the sap as it oozes down the bark.) c.     The presence of copious sticky honeydew on and under the plants, as well as the resulting sooty mold on leaves, fruit, and grass. d.     An increase in activity of bees and/or wasps that are attracted to the sweet honeydew. e.     Seeing a large number of

By Merry Bogert  This insect pest may arrive in Burlington County in the coming months .   Already in northern New Jersey counties and in Pennsylvania, the Spotted Lantern f ly is likely to arrive this summer. This blog series will cover topics from identifying the insect to how to control its spread, including limiting its impact on county residents. The Spotted Lanternfly Life Cycle and Predators The life cycle of the Spotted Lanternfly takes one year to complete. In late September or early October, and continuing throughout the Fall, mated females deposit egg masses, laid in four to seven neat rows and comprised of 30-50 eggs. Each egg mass measures from 3/4"- 1” wide and 1”- 2” long. The eggs are then covered with a coating that dries to look like a smear of grey mud; this coating also protects the eggs from the elements as they develop over the Winter. The eggs are laid preferentially on Tree of Heaven but, in the absence of that preferred host plant, eggs will be

By Merry Bogert This insect pest may arrive in Burlington County in the coming months .  Already in northern New Jersey counties and in Pennsylvania, the Spotted Lantern f ly is likely to arrive this summer. This blog series will cover topics from identifying the insect to how to control its spread, including limiting its impact on county residents. Introduction to the Spotted Lanternfly The Spotted Lanternfly ( Lycorma delicatula ) is a destructive insect pest native to China, Vietnam, and India. It was accidentally spread to Korea, where it has become a major pest of grape growing. It was first discovered in the United States in September of 2014 in Berks County, Pennsylvania, which is northwest of the Philadelphia metropolitan area. It was found on three residential properties and one commercial property that deals in stone imports from Asia. Since then, Spotted Lanternflies (SLF) have been found in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New York, and New Jersey (in Warren, Mer