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Spotted lanternflies in winter have become a big nuisance in New Jersey and the U.S. East Coast. While the adults who’ve been plaguing the area all summer cannot survive cold weather, their eggs can overwinter. This means that if the egg masses aren’t found and handled properly, you will have another season of the dreaded spotted lanternfly as soon as temps rise.
Should You Be Worried About Spotted Lanternflies in Winter?
Are you tired of stomping around on the invasive Spotted Lanternfly? We get it. Spotted lanternflies in winter can be a real problem, and it’s tough to keep them from destroying everything in sight!
Spotted lanternflies have really been giving us a hard time all year long. Now that the cooler weather is here, you would think we’d get a break. Unfortunately, even though the adults may not live through the winter, they have left their egg masses behind and these babies can survive colder months.
So, what can you do to get rid of the egg masses while the adults are away? We’ve got all the information to help you battle them so you have less to worry about once spring comes around!
Identifying Spotted Lanternflies
Spotted lanternflies in winter begin inside egg masses. The egg masses in this stage of life look a lot like putty stuck to a hard surface. As they hatch, spotted lanternflies begin to transform and grow. The spotted lanternflies change during each stage of growth..
During the nymph stage, spotted lanternflies are tiny and look beetle-like. They are all black with white spots all over their bodies and legs. Spotted lanternfly nymphs have the ability to jump at this stage and do so very well. This is how they evade predators and how they are able to get around on plants.
As the nymph stage comes to an end, the spotted lanternflies have grown in size and changed in color. They are about ½ inch long at this point and have added a bright red color to the top of their bodies. Now, they are black with red on top and still have white spots all over.
Adult spotted lanternflies are marked with wings that cover their red and black bodies. The wings are tan with black dots along the upper portion of the wings, but towards the bottom several smaller black dots are very close together. This is a distinct feature for the spotted lanternfly. The spotted lanternfly will only open its wings when it’s about to fly. When this happens the mesmerizing colors of black, red, and tan are on full display. Death will come to the adult spotted lanternflies in winter.
What do Spotted Lanternflies Do In Winter?
If you aren’t very familiar with spotted lanternflies in winter, we will fill you in on this invasive species that has been wreaking havoc on the eastern coast. They aren’t native to our country, but they have been making themselves quite known around our area.
They are about 1 inch long and a ½ inch wide. They have spotted brown and red wings. They are known for their hitchhiking skills, which is what has allowed them to spread to our country, and all over the coast.
When they make their way around our area they damage our local crops like hops, apples, and peaches. And, they can also feed on plants and trees in residential areas as well. Their favorite tree is the tree-of-heaven, but they also love oak, maple, willow, and other varieties.
And once they feast on the plants in the area, they secrete a honey-smelling dew that they leave everywhere. And let’s just say it isn’t fun to clean up. And it can also attract other nuisance insects.
Do Spotted Lanternflies Survive The Winter?
Luckily, adult spotted lanternflies in winter can’t survive the cold temperatures we experience in northern New Jersey. However, the egg masses that they leave behind can handle the cold weather. And that means that the cycle will just begin again in Spring.
But, how exactly can their egg masses survive Winter? Well, spotted lanternflies like many other insects, overwinter in their egg cases. This process is called diapause, and it’s a delay or interruption in growth that allows some insects to be dormant during the winter.
The egg masses of spotted lanternflies in winter will look like splotches of mud or unevenly spread mortar. And you can find them on trees, cement, rocks, and other hard surfaces. If you do find them, the best thing for you to do is to scrape them off and put them in a bag or container with hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol.
By checking your property for egg masses of spotted lanternflies in winter, you can likely reduce the number of spotted lanternflies you see during the Spring months. And, the amount of stomping you will have to do as well. Scrape now, less stomping later!
Be Prepared For The Spring
Once the weather warms up, the flies will start to emerge once again. And there are bound to be some that you missed during your efforts to prevent their emergence. They could be in higher areas of trees, in harder-to-reach places, and there may be too many to take care of.
Since they are great hitchhikers they could be hiding underneath your car waiting to make their way into an area they aren’t supposed to be. Maybe even an area that has been under quarantine for these pests.
That’s right, certain areas are under quarantine to keep spotted lanternflies in winter from spreading even further. To do this, the Department of Agriculture wants you to check objects including vehicles for the pest and their egg masses before moving them.
To help keep the spread under control, when the spotted lanternfly is active, you are supposed to get rid of any flies that you find and report them as well to the Department of Agriculture in your area. Knowing where they are can help greatly.
Call us for Help
While the spotted lanternflies in winter might not be completely wiped out, you can at least be glad that they aren’t causing any significant damage during this time.
And, you can make a big impact by finding and scraping off any egg masses that you find around your area. With everyone doing their part, it can make a huge difference. Prevention is important so if you see signs of spotted lanternflies in winter (or any other time of the year) be sure to give our Kapture team a call.
If you have any questions about the spotted lanternfly or any other pest, Kapture is always here to help. We always offer free phone consultations to answer any questions that you may have.
