Spotted Lanternflies Are Back-Here's How to Tackle Them This Spring

As temperatures rise, spotted lanternflies are making a comeback across many regions. These invasive insects pose a growing concern for gardeners and anyone with trees or vines on their property. They're known for damaging plants and leaving behind sticky residue that attracts mold, quickly turning a healthy yard into a headache (and a mess) for homeowners.

While no one ultimately wants to deal with spotted lanternflies, experts advise that early action can make a big difference and even prevent widespread infestations. From daily habits to targeted treatments, these practical methods help manage these pests before they get out of hand.

What Are Spotted Lanternflies and Why Are They a Problem?

Spotted lanternflies are invasive insects that feed on plant sap. This weakens trees and vines over time. Adults have gray wings with black spots and bright red underwings, while nymphs start black with white spots and turn red as they mature. Their top host is the tree of heaven, but they're also attracted to grapevines, maples, black walnut, birch, willow and some fruit trees.

Heavy feeding leaves a sticky buildup called honeydew, which leads to sooty mold that blocks sunlight and harms plant health. Large infestations can stress or even kill vulnerable plants and make outdoor spaces tough to enjoy.

Why You're Seeing Them Again This Year

Spotted lanternflies have a predictable lifecycle. Egg masses laid in fall survive the winter and hatch in spring, so missed eggs bring new populations. Mild winters and warm springs can also increase survival rates and lead to bigger outbreaks.

These insects spread easily by hitching rides on cars, firewood and outdoor items, which is why they can show up quickly in new areas or in higher numbers than before.

Should You Kill Them on Sight?

In short, yes: you should kill any spotted lanternfly you encounter. "If you spot an adult spotted lanternfly or a nymph, you should simply crush it," says Brendan Polichronopoulos, pest control expert and consultant at LocalProBook. "The more you crush, the fewer there will be."

Nymphs can also be treated with oil and insecticidal soap, which have less impact on the surrounding environment than conventional insecticides. "They're most effective early in the season on young nymphs before the adults harden," says Kyle Turner, president and CEO at Pro Active Pest Control.

While killing on sight is quick and simple, Polichronopoulos cautions it's not the most effective in the long run. "It helps reduce the number of insects on your property at that specific moment," he explains. "This is best done during the period when they are actively feeding on trees, grapevines and ornamental plants."

How to Remove Egg Masses Before They Hatch

The bad news is that killing on sight won't stop spotted lanternflies from reproducing. Instead, the USDA recommends destroying egg masses to eliminate larger numbers at once.

Destroying egg masses during fall, winter and early spring will prevent spotted lanternflies from hatching and spreading.

"They often resemble gray or brownish smudges of mud found on trees, rocks, outdoor furniture, grills, trailers, cars and other hard surfaces," Polichronopoulos says. "They must be scraped off using a suitable tool. A plastic card, putty knife or any other flat implement will work for this purpose."

Scraped material should then be placed in a bag containing rubbing alcohol or alcohol-based hand sanitizer and discarded. "This yields the best results because a single egg mass can contain dozens or even hundreds of eggs," he continues. "Destroying it prevents the emergence of a new wave of insects in the spring."

Any tools used should also be cleaned thoroughly afterward.

Other Simple Steps You Can Take Right Now

One way to help prevent spotted lanternflies from destroying your yard is to place large pest adhesive material around the base of any trees where these insects tend to collect.

"You can find that type of product on Amazon or at some hardware stores," says Matt Smith, co-owner of Green Pest Management. "With this method, you should add either chicken wire or other barriers to protect animal life that might use that tree and potentially get stuck."

Removing the tree of heaven, the spotted lanternfly's favorite host tree, can also help prevent infestations. This reduces the overall appeal of your property to the invasive insect.

"While spotted lanternflies are capable of feeding on a wide variety of plants, practical experience shows that the tree of heaven often serves as their primary gathering point," Polichronopoulos says. "If a property contains many such trees, the pest population can swell to catastrophic levels. In some instances, one or two trees are intentionally left standing to serve as ‘trap trees' and are treated with targeted applications."

Keeping outdoor spaces clean is another simple but effective step. "Power wash patios, decks and walkways," says Jim McHale, entomologist and president at JP McHale Pest Management. "Wipe down tables, railings and outdoor fixtures frequently."

Staying proactive now can help keep spotted lanternflies from taking over later, making it easier to protect both your plants and your outdoor space all season long.

Related: Termites vs. Ants: How to Tell the Difference

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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 5:15 AM.