Delaware Spotted Lanternfly Control Services

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive pest that can cause serious damage to trees and plants in Delaware. This pest is native to several countries in Southeast Asia and was first found in the United States in 2014. Delaware is the second state in the US to discover the presence of spotted lanternflies. In 2017, these pests were found in northern New Castle County. The spotted lanternfly can damage the agricultural industries and residential areas in Delaware if the infestation is allowed to grow and spread. To protect your home or business from spotted lanternflies, you need to learn about the behavior of this pest, take steps for prevention, and find effective treatment options should an infestation occur.

Counties in Delaware with a Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine

 

What is a Spotted Lanternfly?

Exterminators explain the spotted lanternfly is a flying insect that feeds off of vegetation including forests, ornamental trees, orchards, hops, and grapes. The Delaware pest control experts at Viking Pest explain as they feed, spotted lanternflies excrete a sticky substance called honeydew. The honeydew can get all over the area where the lanternflies are feeding and attract other types of pests such as bees and ants. The honeydew can also cause the growth of black sooty mold on trees. Residential vegetation and commercial crops in Delaware are at risk for damage from spotted lanternflies.

How to Identify a Spotted Lanternfly

The spotted lanternfly is a winged insect that is 1 inch long and ½ of an inch wide as an adult. Immature spotted lanternflies are smaller, coming in at ¼ of an inch in length and starting with black wings and white spots. As the spotted lanternfly matures, it develops red patches on the back set of wings. The front set of wings on the adult lanternfly is gray with black spots and has tips that are gray with several small black boxes. The unique coloration of the adult spotted lanternfly makes it stand out from other types of flying pests that you may see near your Delaware home or business.

What Problems Can Spotted Lanternflies Cause for Delaware Home and Business Owners?

Agriculture is the top industry in Delaware. According to the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA), agriculture in the state provides over 20,000 jobs and eight billion dollars of economic activity. Spotted lanternflies are a threat to many crops that contribute to those numbers including grapes, peaches, apples, hops, and timber. If you own a business that is in any way related to agriculture then this pest is a direct threat to your business. Even if you do not own a business related to agriculture, a decline in that important industry will have an impact on everyone living in Delaware. To combat the spread of the spotted lanternfly to other areas of Delaware and the US, the DDA has implemented a quarantine to all areas of New Castle County that are above the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.

Spotted lanternflies can also be a nuisance to home and business owners in Delaware. The honeydew that these pests excrete as they eat can create a sticky mess on decks, fences, and outdoor furniture. The Delaware pest control experts at Viking Pest explain large populations of spotted lanternflies can also damage species of trees such as the tree of heaven, walnut, and willow by leading to weeping wounds, black sooty mold, branch dieback, wilting, and potentially death.

When are Spotted Lanternflies Active in Delaware?

The Delaware exterminators at Viking Pest state female spotted lanternflies lay egg masses of 30-50 eggs in late fall. The young spotted lanternflies start to emerge from the egg masses as the weather warms up in late April through mid-May. The spotted lanternflies remain active in Delaware from late April when they emerge from the egg masses until the late fall when it is time to lay a new generation of spotted lanternfly eggs.

How to Control Spotted Lanternflies in Delaware

The first step in controlling the spread of spotted lanternflies in Delaware is to focus on spotted lanternfly prevention. These pests have been discovered in Delaware but a few proactive steps can help prevent the further spread of spotted lanternflies. Start by learning about the quarantine and following the steps outlined by the DDA. The DDA created a helpful checklist for residents and business owners in Delaware to make following the guidelines of the quarantine quick and easy.

If you are looking for answers on how to get rid of spotted lanternflies, the solution is to bring in a pest control expert. If you discover a spotted lanternfly at your Delaware home or business, get in touch with the Delaware pest control professionals at Viking Pest right away. The presence of a spotted lanternfly near your property means there are likely others and potentially egg masses. Professional intervention from Viking Pest Control will get to the source of your infestation and protect you and others from this destructive pest.

How Do You Protect Your Home or Business From Spotted Lanternflies?

Viking Pest offers treatment plans for both homeowners and businesses throughout Delaware. Viking utilizes a specially formulated liquid treatment to help eliminate the pest. Preventative “Knockdown” treatments are applied to trees and manmade surfaces throughout Spotted Lanternfly season. This re-occurring plan can start as early as May and continue to September 30. Customers can sign up mid-month or mid-season. Basal Trunk Treatments can be performed once per year starting in late July once trees have completely bloomed. Viking Pest offers Spotted Lanternfly treatments in the following counties in Delaware:

• New Castle County
• Kent County
• Sussex County   

What is the Liquid Treatment for Spotted Lanternflies?

As part of our ongoing service, Viking Pest will return to your home or business and apply a liquid treatment to designated trees. This treatment can only be applied during the months of July, August, or September, once trees have completely bloomed. This one-time liquid treatment must be scheduled around the forecast, as rain or precipitation cannot be expected for at least 12 hours after the application. Once applied, the treatment will not harm the tree nor any other vegetation and will act as a natural barrier helping protect the tree from Spotted Lanternflies. In a matter of days, the liquid will be absorbed into the roots and trunk, helping protect the tree from the inside out.   

Does Viking Offer Spotted Lanternfly Treatments for Other Surfaces?

Yes, Viking Pest offers a liquid treatment for other surfaces. This knockdown treatment is designed to treat outdoor surfaces such as wood, shrubs, foundations of buildings, surfaces of buildings, porches, screens, window frames, eaves, patios, garages, refuse dumps, and other similar areas where these pests are active. This treatment cannot guarantee Spotted Lanternflies from returning, but it can help take the first step in controlling the population. 

Hire Viking Pest to Help Control Spotted Lanternflies in Delaware

Viking Pest offers expert treatment designed to effectively and efficiently control and prevent spotted lanternflies from invading your home or business in Delaware. Our use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques focuses on finding the core of the pest concern and controlling spotted lanternflies from the source. Through IPM, pest control materials are selected and applied in a manner that minimizes risks to human health, pets, and the environment. Call Viking today for your FREE and NO OBLIGATION estimate at 1-800-618-2847 or schedule online today!

Protecting Your Home or Business From Spotted Lanternflies in Delaware With Viking Pest Control

Viking Pest offers expert treatment designed to effectively and efficiently control and prevent pests from invading your home or business in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. Our use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques focuses on finding the core of the pest concern and controlling Spotted Lanternflies in Delaware from the source. Through IPM, pest control materials are selected and applied in a manner that minimizes risks to human health, pets, and the environment. Call Viking today for your FREE and NO OBLIGATION estimate at 1-800-618-2847 or Schedule Online today!