The spotted lanternfly was recently spotted in New York state, not far from the Niagara wine region.
There is cause for concern, and this insect “really likes to feed on vines,” said Emily Posteraro, program development coordinator at the Invasive Species Centre, a Canadian nonprofit.
“It caused a lot of damage to grapevines and other tender fruit trees and other plant species in the United States.”
The spotted lanternfly is “an invasive plant hopper native to Southeast Asia,” according to the Invasive Species Center website. The insect was first detected in North America in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has since spread to many other states. It has yet to be spotted in Canada, but industry experts say it’s only a matter of time before it crosses the border.
Spotted lanterns often cluster together, especially on the preferred nesting plant, the also invasive Tree of Heaven. (Courtesy of the Invasive Species Centre)
It’s a hurry up and wait situation,” Debbie Zimmerman, CEO of Grape Growers of Ontario, told CBC Toronto.
“We know it’s invading upstate New York and will eventually make its way into Canada,” he said.
Lantern spot sucks the sap from the vines, causing them to collapse, Zimmerman said.
He said he is concerned because if left unchecked, the insects could destroy entire vineyards, which will cost more than $45,000 each to replant.
“It’s a much more aggressive pest than we’ve seen in the past,” he said.
In fact, the species has done millions of dollars worth of damage in Pennsylvania.
Millions of dollars in damages
A 2019 study from Pennsylvania State University estimated the annual economic damage caused by the insect statewide at between $43 million and $99 million, based on data from the 2017 U.S. Census of Agriculture and a survey of crop production experts.
Researchers said grape growers were hit particularly hard, but the figures also include nursery operators and Christmas tree growers.
Early detection is key to mitigating the damage, Posteraro said. That’s why she and other experts are spreading the word, in hopes that Ontarians can keep an eye out for insects.
“It’s easier to get it under control and it’s also much less expensive at the prevention stage,” he said. “Once you’re in the management stage… it’s proven to be very difficult to control and eradicate.
An adult spotted lanternfly can be identified by its black and gray spots, as well as its bright red underwing. (Courtesy of the Invasive Species Centre)
The spotted lanternfly can be found in its three life stages.
The Invasive Species Center describes its eggs as “brown, seed-like, covered in a gray, mud-colored secretion.” They are grouped in a vertical formation, usually found in trees, but can be placed on any surface, including cars.
Nymphs develop in four stages, starting with black and white spots. As they mature they acquire red spots with distinctive black and white patches.
Adults have wings that are about an inch long. They have black and gray spots, but appear bright red when the wings are open.
The insects are most often found on or near the Tree of Heaven, a common plant that is also invasive in this area.
Labeled cluster of lanterns together on a tree. Insects can be identified by their black and gray spots. (Courtesy of Invasive Speie Centre)
If spotted, Posteraro says to take photos, note the location and report the sighting to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Zimmerman suggests a more extreme approach.
“Just step on it,” he said. “Because that’s the only way you can stop it.”
Liette Vasseur, a professor of biological sciences at Brock University, said this impending invasion is an example of a larger problem linked to climate change.
A longer growing season and milder winters caused by rising temperatures allow more invasive species to spread into the area and live longer.
This is a growing problem for all growers, Vasseur said.
If a species can survive here, it can reproduce here, and if it can reproduce here, it can eventually create a population, he explained.
“We know we have a few more leaf hopper species … that come over time because the distribution of the species goes north because it’s warmer,” Vassueur said. “That’s the big challenge we have to face.”
“We have new species that we didn’t have before.”
Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said in a statement to CBC Toronto that it is currently investigating for identified traffic lights in high-risk areas to aid in early detection.
