Dangerously Invasive Spotted Lanternfly Now In 9 NJ Counties

NEW JERSEY – The state says a bug that was first discovered on a Christmas tree in New Jersey has now made its way to nine counties.

The dangerously invasive spotted lanternfly has now been spotted in Camden, Cape May, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Burlington, Salem, Somerset and Warren counties, with Cape May and Gloucester among the newest additions to the list, state officials say.

A year ago, the bug was found in only three counties.

Eight of the counties have been "quarantined" to prevent the spread of the lanternfly; Cape May has not. That means businesses and the general public in the quarantine area have been required to obtain and fill out a New Jersey residence checklist before moving any of the articles listed here.

The quarantine also requires people and businesses to inspect their vehicles for hitchhiking spotted lanternflies and inspect outdoor items such as firewood, paving stones and lawn equipment for egg masses when they travel or move those items to areas outside the quarantine area, state officials say.

One of the potentially damaging things this bug can do is prey on dozens of types of crops and trees, and they reportedly can attach themselves to the bark of Christmas trees to lay their eggs and multiply, state officials say.

The insect was first found in New Jersey in 2018. Then, a Warren County woman had two clusters of spotted lanternfly eggs attached to her pre-cut Christmas tree, but she didn't notice them until she saw a few strange-looking insects inside her home a month later, when the tree was still up.

New Jersey officials, however, say there have been no reports of lanternflies on Christmas trees this year. Tanner Delvalle, a Pennsylvania horticulture extension educator, says Christmas trees are not a preferred host for spotted lanternflies, so the probability of finding one or an egg mass on a Christmas tree is low.

Still, those planning to buy a pre-cut Christmas tree this year should carefully check the tree before driving it home and make sure no eggs or live insects are clinging to the trunk or any branches.

Business entities that routinely travel in and out of the quarantine area are required to take, and pass, training regarding the Spotted Lanternfly that is supplied for free by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

"The Spotted Lanternfly is an excellent hitchhiker, with the ability travel on all types of vehicles as well as various landscaping, wood-based materials and agricultural produce," Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher said. "It's imperative that we stop the movement of this pest before it can make an impact on New Jersey."

The spotted lanternfly — which is native to China, India, Vietnam and East Asia — is currently in its nymph stage and is likely to be either black or red with white spots, according to the NJDA.

Nymph and adult spotted lanternflies cause extensive damage when they feed, sucking sap from stems and leaves and causing the plant to ooze and weep.

Not only does the plant die but the "fermented odor" caused by the feeding, along with the fluid excreted by the insects themselves, promotes mold growth and draws even more insects, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Department field crews have been conducting surveys for this insect along the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border since 2014, with no findings before last year. In its currents stage the fly is about a half-inch to three-quarter of an inch long and likes to make use of more than 70 different plant species.

The Department is asking for everyone's help in identifying areas where low numbers of this insect may be. Residents can email pictures of suspect insects to SLF-plantindustry@ag.nj.gov or call the New Jersey Spotted Lanternfly Hotline at 1-833-223-2840 (BAD-BUG-0) and leave a message detailing your sighting and contact information.

For more information about this insect, click here.