Arlington has received an unwelcome visit from some polka-dotted pests, which pose a great threat to the town’s natural environment.
On Nov. 14, residents received notice of the recently discovered Spotted Lantern Fly infestation — an invasive insect native to China known for feeding on a wide range of plants, including grapevine, maple, walnut and fruit trees; and primarily, “Trees of Heaven” (Ailanthus altissima).
YourArlington spoke with Tawny Simisky, UMass Extension entomologist at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, who said the lantern flies use piercing, sucking mouthparts to feed on more than 100 different species of agricultural plants, ornamental plants and shade trees.
How they do their damage
While feeding, the insect releases a sticky, sugary liquid waste known as honeydew. This substance produces a “sooty mold,” which damages the plant.
Phu Mai, director of communications of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, said the department received a report about the insect from Arlington within the first week of November, and after sending members of its survey team into town for inspection, it confirmed that it had infected more than a dozen Arlington trees.
“So far, infested trees have been found in the general area of where Mystic Street and Mass. Ave. come together,” Mai wrote in an email to YourArlington. “Some with just a low level of infestation but others appear to be more heavily infested, based on the number of egg masses found.”
Simisky noted that Trees of Heaven were purposefully introduced into the United States, planted in urban locations with lots of compaction and hard-packed soil.
“These trees are able to tolerate sites that are quite a bit more stressful to [other] trees,” she said.
“We have some, we don’t have tons,” said cochair of Arlington’s Tree Committee, Steve Moore, when asked about the number of Trees of Heaven in town. Moore was focusing much of his concerns on the maple trees planted in Arlington.
“The unfortunate part for New England in general, and Arlington specifically, is the fact that [lantern flies] do like maples. Norway maples are such a huge component of our street tree inventory. They would all be at risk to this.”
See a detailed map of various tree species planted throughout the town, featuring several kinds of maples, here >>
Spotted Lantern Flies in U.S., Massachusetts
The invasive species was first reported in the United States in Pennsylvania, in 2014. Since then, it has made its way into 14 different states along the East Coast. In Massachusetts, the first report of infestations was filed in 2021 – as of 2024, several towns in the state have reported their own sightings, and most recently, Arlington joined the list.
View a map of Massachusetts municipalities hosting the invasive insect here >>
Rapidly spreading species
According to Simisky, female lantern flies can lay up to 30 to 50 eggs at a time. “Depending on how many [adult] females you have in that area … like many insects, the population can increase fairly quickly,” she said.
The entomologist explained that while the insect is infamous for laying its eggs on greenery, they will find a spot on just about any flat surface.
“It could be on fencing, it could be on outdoor playground equipment . . . woodpiles, all sorts of different areas, particularly locations that are kind of hidden, out of sight.”
What is seen at eye level, however, is only a small fraction of the amount of lantern-fly egg masses in a location, Simisky explained. The majority of their eggs are located up in tree canopies above six feet.
Mai told YourArlington that survey members of the Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources have been in town throughout November and reported the majority of adult insects have died off because of cold temperatures.
At this point in the season, the flies present in Arlington would have already laid their eggs, which are now to enter their overwintering process – meaning, surviving through the winter season. The eggs that do survive are likely to hatch in the spring, from late April through June, according to Simisky. The state surveyors are searching through Arlington’s Trees of Heaven to find these eggs.
A pesty summer?
The flies are not harmful to humans or animals, as they do not sting nor bite. However, these pests are infamous for making their presence known.
“For residents in Massachusetts, the largest impact that they’ll see would be that, as the population of this insect increases, they are capable of gathering together in very large amounts,” Simisky said. “This could mean a lot of insects in one location.”
Simisky additionally noted the fly is primarily a “nuisance pest” in backyards.
And they bring company. Simisky explained that the fly’s honeydew trace is very attractive to other “singing bugs,” such as ants, bees and wasps. On top of this, that moldy fungus that is left behind after the fly feeds can grow anywhere nearby the spot the insect did its work.
“It could be on the leaves of plants beneath where the insect is feeding.. It could be on picnic tables or cars parked nearby infested trees,” Simisky said. “If you have a coating of that sticky honeydew, you might get a black coating [sooty mold] on top of it.”
In an effort to limit the hatching of a new generation of the fly in Arlington, those who come across the signs of eggs are encouraged to stop the spread.
“Adult females will lay their eggs in masses that they then cover with a material that looks like grey mud when it dries and it can crack over the top of the eggs . . . . You can actually scrape those off and break or rupture the eggs,” Simisky said.
It’s no glamorous job, but human intervention during this winter season is a critical part of ceasing the infestation throughout Arlington.
“You can’t control mother nature, but you can help guide it,” said Moore. “That’s what we’re trying to do . . . whatever happens, we [try to] minimize the downside effects and support whatever local efforts are being made.”
Spotted a Spotted Lantern Fly? Here’s what to do now:
The Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources requires that any resident who finds evidence of a Spotted Lantern Fly report the sighting in detail, including where the insect was found, what types of plants were damaged (if any) and whether or not the reporter owns the land in which the fly was discovered. The form to submit this information is here >>
According to the state agency, an additional step is required should the report take place in a nonresidential parcel of land. The property owner is sent a notice of abatement explaining steps they can take to limit the spread of the insect, which includes watching a required training video instructing the owner and their staff how to recognize the fly.
The department also recommends residents watch this video addressing the procedure should you find the fly within a vehicle.
For additional details regarding fly management, provided by UMass Amherst, click here >>
Nov. 21, 2024: The drought in Massachusetts: How is Arlington affected?
This news feature by Assistant Editor Brynn O’Connor was published Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.
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