How To Identify Spotted Lanternfly Egg Masses & Get Rid Of The Invasive Insect For Good

If you live in an area with spotted lanternflies, you probably know the drill — stomp and kill these invasive insects at first sight. There are also ways to wipe out lanternflies naturally with a couple of kitchen ingredients you already have. But the most effective control method is to destroy these pests before they hatch from the egg. Female spotted lanternflies produce one generation per year with three life stages. The eggs hatch into nymphs in late spring, growing through the summer and fall until they reach adulthood. Killing spotted lanternflies at nymph or adult stage is tricky because they're fast. It's far easier to remove the egg masses if you can find them. You can identify spotted lanternfly egg masses by examining plants and objects in your yard for gray or brown smears.

Why should gardeners get rid of spotted lanternflies? These pests, native to Asia and first identified in the United States in 2014, don't bite or sting. Instead, they suck the sap from trees and other plants, leaving behind a sticky substance known as honeydew. This sugary substance attract other insects, like ants, bees, and wasps, you might not want in your garden. It can also cause sooty mold, a fungal disease that prevents the plants from producing the energy necessary for healthy growth. Spotted lanternflies lack natural predators, and this allows their populations to spread rapidly.

One of the most important things to know about invasive spotted lanternflies to keep them out of your yard is how they deposit their eggs. Female lanternflies lay their egg masses in late summer through winter, but most are laid in October. An egg mass can contain 30 to 50 eggs, and each female can lay two or more masses. The eggs are laid in rows approximately an inch long, though they can vary in length. An entire egg mass usually measures less than 2 inches and resembles a smear of mud or clay.

The individual eggs range in color from yellow to brown, but female lanternflies cover them with a substance to help protect them during the winter. At first, this covering is white and shiny. However, as it dries, it loses its shine and becomes a dull gray or brown. In some cases, the coating can crack during cold winter weather. Some eggs aren't covered at all; uncovered eggs are slightly less likely to hatch. Female lanternflies typically deposit their eggs on trees, fences, bricks, and stones, but the insects can also lay them on patio furniture and metal surfaces. It is sometimes difficult to spot the egg masses on trees because their gray-brown color often matches that of the bark.

While you can DIY a spotted lanternfly trap before they become a nuisance, the most effective way to keep them out of your yard is to destroy the egg masses before they have a chance to hatch. Unlike lanternfly nymphs, which can jump from place to place, and adults, which have wings for flying, the egg masses are stationary, making them much easier to destroy.

Use a plastic card, a putty knife, or anything hard and thin with a flat or tapered edge to scrape egg masses from whatever surface they're attached to. However, you don't just want to scrape them onto the ground because they can still hatch. Instead, scrape the eggs into a plastic bag or other container with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer, which will kill the eggs so you don't have to worry about them hatching. Tie off the bag or snap the lid onto the container to keep them there permanently. You can also dispatch lanternfly egg masses by smashing them with a stick or gloved hand. Apply even pressure across the mass to ensure each tiny egg breaks apart.