Spotted lanternflies scarce in Lynchburg this year as predators, conditions curb invasion

Spotted lanternflies scarce in Lynchburg this year as predators, conditions curb invasion

Lynchburg, VA (WSET) — Two years ago, people walking the streets of Lynchburg said they were seeing “hundreds a day” of spotted lanternflies and hoped for an end to the invasive pests.

This year, many residents have noticed there aren’t nearly as many around — and Virginia Cooperative Extension agent Todd Scott says a combination of predators and weather may be playing a role.

Scott said the spotted lanternfly is an invasive species, and many predators had never seen it before. Over time, he said, predators began to recognize the insects as something they could eat.

Weather also likely contributed to the drop in sightings. Scott pointed to a very late freeze this year that helped kill off some of the lanternflies.

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But Scott cautioned against celebrating too soon. He said lanternflies love the tree of heaven, and later this year when the tree slows and ends its sap production, the numbers could go up.

“We're kind of waiting to see, you know, how much, you know, how many are going to come off of those tree of heavens looking for other places to feed. And then around September, they're going to start laying eggs. We're, we're kind of crossing our fingers that the numbers are, are a lot lower than what we're seeing,” Scott said.

Scott said the pest remains more of a nuisance than anything else overall. However, he said vineyards and orchards should continue to keep an eye on lanternfly activity in the fall, when the insects move off the tree of heaven.