Understanding Spotted Lanternfly Life Stages

During our site visit we encountered lanternfly nymphs in the third instar. Key points about this stage:

• Appearance: Third instar nymphs are predominantly black, having recently transitioned from the bright red second instar.
• Behavior: Highly mobile and voracious feeders, they cluster on preferred host plants.
• Timing: Third instar typically appears mid- to late summer, making now an ideal time for targeted treatments.

SPOTTED LANDTERNFLY Host Plants Observed

Spotted lanternfly nymphs feed on a wide range of woody and herbaceous plants. At this Westboro farm we found infestations on:

• Wild grape vines – A major nymphal food source; dense foliage provides protection.
• Oriental bittersweet – Another common host, especially in unmanaged field edges.
• Poison ivy – Less preferred but still vulnerable to feeding damage.
• Not observed on tree-of-heaven/“Atlantis” trees during this visit, though these remain high-risk hosts elsewhere.

Why Grapes Matter For Spotted Lanternfly Scouting

Though these are wild grapes (not vineyard crops), heavy feeding can:

• Weaken vines and reduce berry set.
• Attract secondary pests and disease organisms.
• Serve as staging grounds for lanternfly adults to spread into agricultural areas.

Treatment Proposal for MDAR

Based on our scouting data, Rear Tree Service is preparing a detailed MDAR proposal that will include:

1. Targeted foliar applications timed for peak third instar activity
2. Strategic placement of systemic treatments on high-value host trees
3. Follow-up monitoring sessions to assess knock-down efficacy
4. Recommendations for habitat management, including removal of nearby invasive hosts

Next Steps For Handling Spotted Lanternfly

We expect to return to this Westboro farm next week to begin treatments under MDAR oversight. Our goal is to significantly reduce the nymph population before adults emerge and disperse.

Call to Action

If you’re concerned about spotted lanternfly on your property—whether grapevines, ornamentals, or wild hosts—contact Mayer Tree Service today for a free site assessment. Our certified arborists and pest management professionals will develop an integrated treatment plan tailored to your needs.