The Delaware Fam Bureau is urging the public to learn about the spotted lanternfly, kill it immediately and report it to the Department of Agriculture as the invasive insects begin to lay eggs throughout the state

The department is keeping track of statewide sightings online, which can be reported at agriculture.delaware.gov/plant-industries/spotted-lanternfly/.

Spotted lanternflies can deplete a tree or crop of its resources and leave residue around the area which could destroy nearby plants.

The spotted lanternfly nymph starts as a black bug with white dots and eight legs. As it grows, the black turns to a bright red. Adult spotted lanternflies have a striped body with two sets of wings - one will be tan in color with black spots, and one will be red with black spots and other designs.

Spotted lanternfly eggs can be difficult to spot, as they often meld into wooded or dirt areas with their light tan casings that appear like a smudge of dirt. The eggs can be several inches long and an inch or two wide, according to the University of Delaware’s Cooperative Extension.

The Delaware Farm Bureau urges that killing the invasive species before it lays eggs, or destroying the eggs when found, is critical to maintaining the state’s agriculture, forestry and other ecosystems.

The bureau recommends the following measures to curb spotted lanternfly populations:

• Call an expert - Pesticides and other remedies need to be applied by licensed pesticide professionals; a list of professionals can be found on the Department of Agriculture’s website.
• Use insecticides - Sometimes available to the general public, these can come in the form of soap and broad-spectrum insecticides. However, the chemicals found in these products could cause damage to other living creatures in the nearby area. Read the labels carefully and follow the instructions closely.
• Research home remedies carefully - There are some home remedies that have been helpful in killing spotted lanternflies such as spraying vinegar on the bugs. However, these remedies have not been studied and their effects on the nearby ecosystem are unknown.
• Search for eggs - Scrape eggs off into a bag of rubbing alcohol. This will remove the eggs safely and prevent them from hatching in the future. Dispose of the bag once the collection is complete.
• Manage trees of heaven - Spotted lanternflies feed off of the tree of heaven species. The state offers identification and eradication tips at agriculture.delaware.gov.

For more information about the Delaware Farm Bureau or to see more photos regarding the spotted lanternfly, visit defb.org.