Tree of Heaven and Lanternflies in November

So, let’s turn our attention to the spotted lanternfly. What’s the status here in Ohio? 

This is going to be something we’re going to have to deal with. I think it’s a bigger concern for the state. They’re looking at it in the farm crop end of things more so than the deciduous trees and shrubs. There is concern there. 

But I have noticed them at several different nurseries this year, tagging for next spring. We’ve seen them on specifically the autumn blaze maples. And they are feeding on the maples. You can see where the trees are, the sap is coming out. These nurseries are very proactive in spraying and controlling, and making sure that as little damage as possible happens from these insects. And they are a non-native species, so they’re invasive. And it’s just one of those things, I don’t think we’re going to totally know the full effect of them until time passes.

As we see them, we can put an application of a spray down, and it’ll knock them out real easy. They are fairly easy to kill, and that is one of the good things. There’s no doubt about it when you see it. You know, sometimes in speculation, you’re like, oh, is this a good bug, bad bug, not sure? You’re going to know it when you see it. And the spots are on their wings. It’s very easy to recognize them. These are invasive, though, and so you don’t have to feel too bad. They’re not supposed to be here.

We’re going to be all watching that. Around the farms, if they have that kind of stuff, they’re spraying the crops that we’re buying and to try to protect them and make sure they’re safe.  They are very easy to kill. There’s a lot of different sprays that you can use to kill them once you see them.

The tree of heaven is considered a weed tree, and that’s one that’s their main host plant. And so getting rid of those can help control the spotted lanternfly.  

The Tree of Heaven isn’t a very popular thing. It’s very fast growing, kind of considered almost a weed tree. I know the nurseries really watch that and try to control and prevent those. Very, very few nurseries, to my knowledge, even produce that tree. So it’s not something that they’re growing, but it’s something that occurs out in nature. 

So if you have the Tree of Heaven, you know that’s what it is, get rid of it. Usually a lot of people do because it really is kind of a weed tree. It shows up and it’s fast growing. I used to see a lot more along like the highways, but I think they’ve kind of taken care of that a little bit more.

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