Jersey City residents have recently reported multiple confirmed sightings of the
Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma deliculata) or SLF. The SLF is an invasive insect native to Asia that was introduced into Pennsylvania and is spreading into New Jersey. SLF feeds and lays eggs on crops, fruit trees, and hardwood trees, and eventually colonizes and kills those affected plants and trees. It is imperative that Jersey City stays vigilant in reporting and removing the SLF from our community before it destroys our urban forest.
If you see the Spotted Lanternfly, take a photograph and report it immediately to The NJ Department of Agriculture at 1-833-223-2840 (BADBUG0) and the Jersey City RRC at 201-547-4900.
If you see egg masses, scrape them off, double bag them and throw them away. You can also place the eggs into alcohol, bleach or hand sanitizer.
The fall and winter season will kill off the lanternflies that are alive now, but the egg nests will hatch in Spring and start all over. This makes fall/winter our best time to beat the problem. Scrape off and report any egg nests you see and don't forget to check your backyard and trees around your home.
What else? Kill it! Squash it, smash it...just get rid of it.
These bugs will lay egg masses with 30-50 eggs each this season. They are called bad bugs for a reason, don't let them take over Jersey City next.
Click here for more information on the Spotted Lanternfly.