Fight the Spotted Menace!

            This past summer, no matter how hard you may have tried to avoid the topic, and despite all attempts to hide from them, there was a new and unwelcome presence on the streets of DC. This is of course in reference to the spotted lanternfly (and nothing else), a recent addition to the city’s ecosystem and one prone to swarming in what feels like the thousands. While they have appeared previously, it hasn’t seemed to be as extreme of an influx as it was last year. So what are these surprisingly springy creatures, where did they come from, what can we do about them and why are we writing about them in the winter?

Unfortunately now a familiar sight, adult spotted lanternflies have a distinct appearance.

            The spotted lanternfly originally hails from parts of Vietnam and China, but started to appear in South Korea as early as 2006, continuing its spread to Japan in 2009 and eventually the United States in 2014. They were first found in Washington D.C. in small numbers in 2021, with a significant uptick in population by 2024 and 2025. Their rapid spread has been made possible by a lack of predators in their newly adopted homes, a role fulfilled by large wasps in their natural range, as well as heightened adaptability to new sources of food in the areas it has spread to. While spotted lanternflies are not a direct threat to humans, they can cause major damage to economically important crops. This is far less of an issue in the District since the city doesn’t have a significant agricultural sector, however they remain a nuisance and the sticky honeydew that they leave behind on plants can lead to increased mold growth.

Spotted lanternfly nymphs appear drastically different from their adult form. They will undergo another change in color before reaching adulthood.

Another nymph, at a later stage, sporting new colors as it progresses towards adulthood.

             Observations of infestations in other regions of the country indicate that their populations peak over the course of a few years, as local predators like birds and bats adapt to their presence. However countermeasures applied by humans still play a very important role in limiting their impact. In DC, the Department of Energy & Environment’s (DOEE) Fisheries and Wildlife division is primarily responsible for treating trees, eliminating egg clusters and offering educational outreach, however all residents can assist too. This brings us to the question of why discuss this now. The most effective way of stopping spotted lanternflies is to scrape off the egg masses attached to trees as this can eliminate several dozen at a time. These can be found on tree bark during the winter months. Once removed, they should be sealed in a plastic bag before being disposed of in order to ensure that none of the eggs survive. Before reaching adulthood, spotted lanternflies spend several months in a nymph stage. These nymphs are much smaller, have a distinct appearance than the adults and lack the ability to fly, but are still capable of very agile jumps. As we traverse through the cold, dark months of the year a little extra vigilance can lead to a lighter lanternfly season in the summer ahead. And even if you aren’t able to find any of the egg clusters you can still help. Just remember: if you see one, stomp one.

The clusters of eggs appear as grey, earthy splotches and easily blend into tree bark. But this is the stage when they are most vulnerable, and most effectively controlled.