Feb 21, 2019

Treatment introduced to target spotted lanternfly

Arborjet Inc., a tree and plant health care company, said it has developed a “proven and effective treatment solution to help mitigate the spotted lanternfly.”

According to the USDA, this invasive pest  “could be the most destructive species in 150 years.” 

To treat the Spotted lanternfly, Arborjet applied a systemic micro-injectable product IMA-jet. “In recent field trials, this treatment proved successful in eliminating the pest from the host tree and reducing honeydew and sooty mold production,” said Don Grosman, Ph. D., Technology Advancement Manager & Entomologist at Arborjet. 

Native to Asia, the brightly colored planthopper was first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014. Established populations are now found in Pennsylvania and Virginia and the pest has been identified in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland, and other bordering states are on alert. The spotted lanternfly nymphs will feed on a wide range of plant species, including grape, hops, grasses and fruit trees, while adults prefer to feed on trees, particularly Tree of Heaven, walnut, maple, birch, and others, posing a serious threat to agriculture and tourism.

The pest sucks the sap from plants and trees and produces a sticky residue, honeydew, that supports sooty mold growth. People moving infested materials have aided its rapid spread. Adults lay 1-inch-long egg masses in the fall on nearly anything from tree trunks and rocks to vehicles and firewood. With no native predator, the spotted lanternfly population has flourished.

“Arborjet uses the latest technology, injecting and sealing the formulation in the tree’s vascular system. Nothing is placed in the soil or into the air, making it a safer more sustainable treatment option, with far greater efficacy than other methods,” said Arborjet COO Russ Davis.