DALLAS COUNTY, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced Tuesday that the presence of two immature spotted lanternflies were confirmed in Dallas County earlier this month.
The spotted lanternfly is a planthopper that has decimated many kinds of fruit, ornamental and woody trees since it was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014. Since then, the bug has been confirmed in 11 states.
"I thought it was just strictly an East Coast pest. The upper Midwest hasn't really seen it yet. [...] Dallas County's literally a mile away from me. That kind of shocked me," said Bryan Ethcen, owner of Iowa Orchard. Etchen is also the Vice President of the Iowa Fruit & Vegetables Growers Association.
Native to China, India and Vietnam, the insect spreads by the movement of material or items infested with lanternfly egg masses.
"The female can lay the eggs on a boat, on a train car, anywhere, and then those are transported throughout the United States," said Ginny Mitchell, Coordinator of the Insect Zoo at Iowa State University.
As an invasive species, the habits of the spotted lanternfly can harm North American plants. Once attached to a plant or tree, the insect sucks sap and reduces the products of photosynthesis, making them weaker and eventually leading to death.
“At this time of year, we expect to find the eye-catching nymphs, which can be black and white, or red, black, and white. It is ironic is that this invasive insect prefers to feed on the tree-of-heaven, another invasive species,” said State Entomologist Robin Pruisner in a press release.
Here's some things to keep in mind:
- Spotted lanternfly gather in large numbers on host plants
- They are most easily spotted at dusk or night because they migrate up and down the trunk of the plant
- During the day, they cluster near the base of the plant
- Infested plants may ooze, weep and have a fermented odor
- There may be a buildup of sticky honeydew on the infested plant or the ground underneath
Surveys from the area in Dallas County where the two samples were discovered have not given indication of ongoing infestations, but experts urge people to keep an eye out all the same.
"For a while it was it was Japanese Beetle and then it was Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, and now it's this one. When something is found, we have to stay up to date," Etchen said.
“Spotted lanternfly nymphs and adults are colorful, and if you spot one, please report it to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship right away," Pruisner said. "We appreciate this community member letting us know about its presence in our state and we hope other Iowans will keep an eye out as we want to contain the spread of this destructive pest."
If you think you've seen a spotted lanternfly, contact the Entomology and Plant Science Bureau at 515-725-1470 or email Entomology@IowaAgriculture.gov.