On your next outdoor excursion, try finding the egg masses of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect in Fairfax County.
If you spot an egg mass (pictured below), you can help stop it from hatching by crushing and scraping the mass with a small, sturdy card. These nuisance pests will hatch soon, according to our urban foresters.
What to Look For
The grayish-brown spotted lanternfly egg masses measure about one inch long and can be found “uncovered” with groove lines or “covered” with no lines. They can be hard to find because the color blends in with tree bark.
Do Your Part
Crushing and scraping spotted lanternfly eggs before they hatch is an easy way to help stop the spread of spotted lanternfly without using pesticides. These non-native nuisance pests, first seen in Fairfax County in 2022, can destroy gardens, particularly new sprouts and young plantings.
“Spotted lanternfly egg masses are often found on their favorite tree, the non-native tree of heaven, but can be seen on other trees and branches, fences, landscaping fixtures and more,” says Urban Forester Joan Allen of Fairfax County’s Urban and Community Forestry Division. “As a non-native insect, the spotted lanternfly species has no natural predators. Its populations have been growing since it was first seen in Pennsylvania about 10 years ago and is now widely seen throughout Fairfax County.”
You can tell if an egg mass has hatched if you see a cluster of tiny black insects with white spots called nymphs. If you see them, please crush them and be aware that they like to jump.
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