By Sharron Luttrell

Residents should be on the lookout for the invasive spotted lanternfly after the state confirmed an infestation in Mendon.

The town issued an alert after a survey team from the state Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources confirmed a report that came in through its pest reporting website.

The insect feeds on sap, which weakens trees, shrubs and vines, making them susceptible to disease, drought and other stresses. The bugs leave behind a sticky substance that accumulates beneath feeding areas. This attracts stinging insects and leads to fungus growth, which causes further damage to plant life.

The spotted lanternfly feeds on over 100 different plant species, but prefers tree-of-heaven, grape vines and black walnut. The insect poses a particular threat to orchards and vineyards.

Residents are encouraged to check their property and kill any lanternflies they see. They should also check smooth, flat surfaces for egg masses, which are flat, gray and waxy.  

“I would recommend residents scrape off any egg masses they find into rubbing alcohol, likely found on host species like tree-of-heaven or wild grape,” Mendon Conservation Agent Isabella Genova said in an email. 

Native to southern China, Vietnam and Taiwan, the spotted lanternfly found its way to the U.S. through imported goods. It was first identified in the U.S. in 2014 in Berks County, Pennsylvania and has since spread to 15 states, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Its spread has far outpaced that of the Gypsy moth, which took almost 100 years to travel from Massachusetts to New York, according to the USFWS website.

See the MDAR Spotted Lanternfly Management Guide for Homeowners in Infested Areas to learn more about protecting your property from the insect.

Image top of page from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Spotted Lanternfly Management Guide for Homeowners.