OT: Seeing a lot of lanternflies in central NJ
- Thread starter Extra Point_rivals157299
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There are steps we can take take to slow the spread. The Tree of Heaven is their favorite tree. We have one in our back yard and we’ve set a trap that’s killed hundreds if not thousands. We'll take the tree down soon. State agriculture services are monitoring and I know trees are taken down (as has been done with white ash trees to try to stop the emerald ash bore). Not transporting firewood also helps. But you’re right, while we might be able to slow the spread, Mother Nature hopefully steps in. The world is too small; invasive species both plant and animals are adversely impacted the eco system. The Mississippi River is being devastated by an invasive fish from the Far East.
I live in eastern PA and yes, we were infested with them. People took all of the steps to destroy them but with the huge numbers around it felt like you were p***ing in the ocean.
The weird thing is there have not been near as many near me this summer (probably less than 5-10% as many as before) Like I said, I don’t think the steps we were taking could have had a significant impact.
Then again, last year and this year for about a week small planes were flying very low over my town. The town said they were “seeding” which made no sense. They probably figured out what kills these lantern flies and didn’t want to tell us what it is they are spraying.
I sat out at lunch today in West Orange and noticed them flying all about. I watched adult laying lanterns land on the trunks of trees and start crawling up. I squashed about 15 of them. Some of them are quick and keep moving as you go in for the stomp. One of the friends of the deceased must have been ticked off and he dive bombed me and landed on my neck. Others were flying into my pant leg and clinging to me. We are under attack!
They're all over the Mercer county golf courses. So I'm playing golf with a few buddies and one guy says the same thing about the bugs expect he says "three hops and they're too tired to move". The "other" guy says "Hmmm, just like my wife in bed."
LOLOLOLOL
Spent last weekend in Piscataway for a soccer tournament. Parked at the HS and they were all over there and the fields next to the HS. Many of you will be bringing them home from the game Saturday and not even know it.
I was at the same tournament (see my post above, did we play against you??). It was wild how many there were. Now I understand the concern.
Funny thing was, Saturday there were a ton, but Sunday, not nearly as many. Sunday was a quite windy so perhaps that had something to do with it?
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I’ve been “hunting” them with a Bug-A-Salt for a few months. I killed about 30 of them on a neighbor’s maple tree yesterday. It’s more fun then it should be. They let you get close so the salt blasts them, but even when they’re out of reach the salt spray makes them hop… often in range. They’re tough but a head shot is all it takes. Happy hunting.
Maybe if you had a daughter playing U13 since I do remember playing Cranford on Saturday.
Napalm would be pretty effective against these pests. Why the government won't use or at least release it to concerned citizens is beyond me.
What is strange about these bugs is they are definitely slow but just quick enough to get away unless you are going to whack them with a sandal or flip-flop....
I am not a expert on this stuff but I have not noticed any or very few fireflies or when I was a kid, we called them "lightning bugs".....maybe it's a lot of the houses or property owners in the area using fertilizer and pesticides for the lawns, to try and minimize the mosquitoes at night.
I am not a expert on this stuff but I have not noticed any or very few fireflies or when I was a kid, we called them "lightning bugs".....maybe it's a lot of the houses or property owners in the area using fertilizer and pesticides for the lawns, to try and minimize the mosquitoes at night.
I've found it usually takes me about 5 shots with the Bug-A-Salt to kill these things, although I haven't tried specifically aiming for their head. I usually go for the wings on the first shot so they can't fly away, making it easier to finish them off. I'll try aiming for their head next. I shot one out of the air the other day, I believe that counts as extra points.
After the Temple game we drove to college ave to to get thomas sweets. We parked on Easton in front of that newer "Verve" bldg (@ hamilton). There were many hundreds of them on the walls, on the sidewalk along the base of the bldg, coming out of spaces in/around the bldg. It was crazy---looked like a new plague put upon us with all these bugs.
There definitely was a lot less lightning bugs this year. I think we had another thread where I mentioned I didn't see them until July. Usually you start to see them by mid-June.
There have definitely been declines in their numbers, but from what I understand it's less about pesticides and more about encroachment on habitats and light pollution. We're past their peak, though which runs from May through July. I did see fewer of them around me this year in June than in prior years.
This year, as opposed to last year, I have seen the wasps now going after them, and more birds eating them.
A light tennis racket can work if you don’t have the patience for two jumps and a stomp. A bit more challenging but fun.
unfortunately, I had seen a story about them long before I saw one in real life.. and seeing one made me think of them as an ugly terror
should have been a purge of those trees everywhere.. long ago. Huge mistake by whoever brought em here.
Yes, saw a half eaten L-fly the other day on my deck…and last year witnessed a bird chomping on one ( I’m in eastern PA and we’ve had them for at least 3 years now). Plus the mantis I saw yesterday looked fat and happy.
I think if the L-flies set up shop on a non-toxic tree (they eat the sap and some in my yard used the walnut tree next to my deck probably making themselves taste delicious as a result) they’re very edible. It might be potluck for the predators though…not sure how they can tell without having a taste…
That is interesting. We are seeing less of them. Maybe it’s predation. That would be good.
They eat/destroy valuable trees mostly. They may destroy other plants as well.
It was because people buy too many non native species of plants for their yards. This is how we end up with these invasive species. We ship trees and other plants in from other countries to sell at big box stores.
It may be that it just takes time to equilibriate. Birds, bats, predatory bugs simply don’t know yet that these lantern flies are good eats and rather clumsy making them an easy meal. Once the predators have at them, the population will settle down. In the meantime, keep stomping!
Same experience for me, especially if they’re a few feet away. But if they are close enough for a fly swatter the the salt does it in one shot. I don‘t know how to post my own videos otherwise I would send a short slo-mo showing how effective
Haven’t seen one there all summer… I’ll have to look more closely, I just did a ton of planting/landscaping
Not to say that’s not a problem but these suckers came with a shipment of stone apparently to berks county.
the honeydew sugary substance that the SLF's secrete (the stuff that eventually causes the sooty mold) is something that wasps/hornets/yellowjackets like to eat so often times if you have a high level of the SLF's you likely could see uptick in amount of the wasps, etc in that same general area.