Nov 14, 2024

Spotted lanternfly detected in Georgia

An invasive and destructive insect pest, spotted lanternflies (SLF), has been discovered in Georgia.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) has received confirmation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made the first detection of spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula or SLF) in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Discovery of the invasive planthopper that poses a serious risk to Georgia’s agriculture was made in Fulton County, Georgia, in the Atlanta metropolitan area, on Oct. 22, and confirmed by USDA APHIS on Nov. 14, according to a Nov. 14 GDA news release.

The first confirmed detection of the Spotted Lanternfly was made in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has spread to 17 states, including Tennessee and North Carolina.

SLFs are destructive pests that feed on a wide variety of crops and plants, including grapes and apples, cherries, nectarines, apricots, peaches, plums, blueberries, cucumbers and basil as well as almond and walnut trees.

“The Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive pest that poses a serious threat to our state’s #1 industry, has been detected for the first time in Georgia,” said Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “We urge anyone who sees the Spotted Lanternfly in their area to document it, report it, and kill it. Controlling the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly is our best strategy for safeguarding Georgia’s agriculture industry, and we are asking for the public’s help in this effort.”

To combat the threat, Georgians are encouraged to take immediate action if they spot the bug:

• Take a clear picture of the pest.
• Kill it.
• Report the sighting using GDA’s online reporting tool here.

For Georgians seeking professional treatment options, GDA offers lists of licensed pesticide professionals who can provide assistance with applications. Local UGA Cooperative Extension offices can offer advice and options to control SLF.

Though SLFs do not pose direct threats to human health, the leafhopper pest feeds on a variety of plants and hardwood trees. Its feeding weakens the plants and produces a sticky, sugary fluid that encourages the growth of sooty mold, further harming crops. While the SLF prefers the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), it can significantly impact many other species, according to the release.

SLF overwinter in their egg stage, laying eggs from September to November. The eggs survive through the winter months until hatching in the spring when temperatures warm up. Essentially, adult lanternflies die with the first hard frost, but their eggs remain viable throughout the winter. GDA expects the egg stage of their life cycle to take place over the coming weeks, according to the release.

For more information about SLF and its identification, one can visit GDA’s website.