Spotted lanternflies emerging on Long Island in now annual rite of summer

The seemingly ubiquitous spotted lanternfly is back on Long Island, taking over backyards and continuing its slow but steady march to the East End.

They're in the process of making the dramatic change from the more subtle, small black-spotted juveniles, or nymphs, to full-grown plant hoppers with a bright red body and 2-inch wingspan.

The invasive insect is a threat to dozens of plants — such as grapevines — using its sharp mouth parts to deplete them of nutrients. And if the lanternflies swarm a plant, they can destroy it.

"We've seen them getting closer to the wineries out east on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley," said Christopher Logue, director for plant industry at the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

More prevalent in Nassau County and western Suffolk, there have been sporadic sightings of the lanternfly on the East End but no infestations, officials said, sparing the wineries from damage.

Officials still recommend that people who come across the insects in areas where they are well established kill them immediately by stepping on them or crushing them. On Long Island, the exception is the North Fork. Anyone who sees one there is asked to take a photo, collect a sample and place it in a freezer or jar with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer and fill out the survey on the state Agriculture and Markets website. After that's done, the department advises the rest should be killed.

The insect, which is native to China, was found in Pennsylvania in 2014. Since then, it has cut a hungry swath through New Jersey, the five boroughs of New York City, upstate and on Long Island. There have been sightings as far west as Indiana and as far south as North Carolina.

Logue said the insect makes its way to new areas by hitching a ride on cars or along railroad lines.

After making a strong New York City debut in 2020, the lanternfly moved out to Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties. This year, Logue said the agency is receiving more reports from the city about mature lanternflies than last year, more evidence that population shifts are hard to predict.

"I don't know if we're going to see a little bit of a resurgence in the city area this year," Logue said. "Time will tell on that."

Jared Dyer, entomology specialist at the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Suffolk County, said he expects to hear more reports from Long Islanders as more adult lanternflies emerge.

Since the lanternfly is already established in Nassau and western Suffolk counties, Dyer said people only need to report sightings to the state from the East End.

"We have been prepping our grape growers for awhile now," Dyer said. "They know what to look out for, how to manage it, how to deal with it."

Wineries on alert

Kareem Massoud, a winemaker for Paumanok Vineyard in Aquebogue and Palmer Vineyards in Riverhead, said last year a few lanternflies were seen on the properties, which total more than 120 acres. This year, a few of the nymphs have been spotted.

"But we are talking about individual insects here and there, no infestations," he said.

Massoud said he discussed management strategies with a Pennsylvania grape grower. As a result, he started cutting back the Tree of Heaven plants, which are also invasive to the United States but irresistible to spotted lanternflies. 

The grower told Massoud not to cut them all down, he recalled. "That will just send up new shoots in the surrounding area."

Instead, Massoud trims them, hoping they will attract the lanternflies and keep them away from the vineyards.

"We've seen this coming for years," he said. "The same thing is true for California."

Bat allies?

Scientists have been researching whether the spotted lanternfly has attracted predators, which could also help reduce the population. A study out of Rutgers University published in February shows at least some bats have been eating the insects. Others have documented birds eating spotted lanternflies.

"I don't know if they'll be feeding on them in large enough numbers to actually decrease the population," Dyer said. 

He advised people not to "freak out" if they see a spotted lanternfly.

"It doesn't sting, it doesn't harm your pets," Dyer said. "They don't like humans. If they end up in your house, it's usually by accident."

Logue said experts are still trying to understand what influences the success or failure of spotted lanternfly populations in a given year. People should expect to see them annually.

"I don't think we should have an expectation of eradicating the spotted lanternfly anytime soon," he said.

By Lisa L. Colangelo

lisa.colangelo@newsday.com@lisalcolangelo

Lisa joined Newsday as a staff writer in 2019. She previously worked at amNewYork, the New York Daily News and the Asbury Park Press covering politics, government and general assignment.