Massive honeydew build-up under plants, sometimes with black sooty mold.ĭEC is working with the Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address SLF.One-inch-long egg masses that are brownish-gray, waxy and mud-like when new.Sap oozing or weeping from tiny open wounds on tree trunks, which appears wet and may give off fermented odors. Photo: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, which are inadvertently transported to new areas, causing the insect to spread. They lay their eggs on vehicles, firewood, outdoor furniture, stone, etc. SLF can jump and fly short distances, they spread primarily through human activity. In Pennsylvania, where SLF populations are the densest, people can't be outside without getting honeydew on their hair, clothes, and other belongings. The sticky mess and the swarms of insects it attracts can significantly hinder outdoor activities. The full extent of economic damage this insect could cause is unknown at this time.Īlthough native insects also secrete honeydew, the size of SLF and the large populations that congregate in an area result in large accumulations of it. New York's annual yield of apples and grapes has a combined value of $358.4 million, which could be greatly impacted by SLF. SLF also excrete large amounts of sticky "honeydew," which attracts sooty molds that interfere with plant photosynthesis, negatively affecting the growth and fruit yield of plants. This feeding by sometimes thousands of SLF stresses plants, making them vulnerable to disease and attacks from other insects. Adults and nymphs use their sucking mouthparts to feed on the sap of more than 70 plant species. SLF pose a significant threat to New York's agricultural and forest health. They are smooth and brownish-gray with a shiny, waxy coating when first laid. In the fall, adults lay 1-inch-long egg masses on nearly anything from tree trunks and rocks to vehicles and firewood. The lower portions of their hindwings are red with black spots and the upper portions are dark with a white stripe. Their forewings are grayish with black spots. Red nymphs can be seen from July until September.Īdults begin to appear in July and are approximately 1 inch long and ½ inch wide at rest, with eye-catching wings. The black nymphs can be seen as early as April and until July. Nymphs are black with white spots and turn red before transitioning into adults.
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