The Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive insect from Asia, first discovered in the United States in 2014. This planthopper has since spread rapidly across multiple states, causing concern for residents. The insect is easily recognizable by its striking wings, which are grayish with black spots and vivid red patches. The Spotted Lanternfly poses no direct danger to human or animal health. They are not known to bite, sting, or transmit diseases to people or pets.
Assessing Direct Danger to People and Pets
The physical structure of the Spotted Lanternfly makes it incapable of causing injury to people or animals. They possess piercing-sucking mouthparts, which function like a specialized straw designed to extract sap from plant tissue. These mouthparts are not strong enough to penetrate human or animal skin, meaning the insect cannot bite. The species also lacks a stinger, so the risk of being stung is nonexistent.
Concerns about the insect’s toxicity to household pets are largely unfounded based on current research. There are no confirmed toxins within the Spotted Lanternfly that pose a serious threat to dogs, cats, or other wildlife if ingested. If a pet consumes a large quantity of the insects, a temporary upset stomach, drooling, or a mild loss of appetite may occur. This reaction is generally attributed to the difficulty of digesting the tough exoskeletons rather than any inherent poison. Researchers have found no evidence that the Spotted Lanternfly acts as a vector for diseases that affect humans or domestic animals.
The Annoyance Factor: Nuisance and Property Damage
Since the Spotted Lanternfly is not a direct threat, the primary impact on residents is the nuisance they create when populations are dense. They gather on host plants, buildings, and outdoor surfaces during the late summer and fall. This volume of insects can make outdoor spaces unusable and cause discomfort for homeowners.
As the lanternflies feed by extracting plant sap, they excrete a sugary liquid waste product known as “honeydew.” This sticky substance rains down from infested trees, coating patios, decks, outdoor furniture, and parked cars. The honeydew attracts other nuisance insects, such as ants and wasps.
The honeydew serves as a medium for the growth of a fungus called black sooty mold. While this mold is harmless to humans, it forms a dark, crusty layer that stains surfaces and is difficult to remove. When the sooty mold covers the leaves of plants, it blocks sunlight and interferes with photosynthesis, stressing residential landscape plants.
Why Public Officials Worry: The Agricultural Threat
The danger of the Spotted Lanternfly lies not in its interaction with people, but in the economic and ecological damage it inflicts on agricultural industries. The pest feeds on over 70 different plant species, ranging from ornamental plants to timber and specialty crops. This wide host range allows it to impact multiple facets of the economy.
The primary agricultural threat is directed at vineyards, where heavy feeding can cause plant stress, reduced yields, and vine death. The insects also target fruit trees, including apples, peaches, and plums, as well as hops used in brewing. Their sap-sucking behavior weakens the plants, making them more susceptible to other diseases and stressors.
The combination of the insect’s feeding and the resulting sooty mold can render crops unmarketable, leading to financial losses for growers. Economic impact projections suggest the potential for hundreds of millions of dollars in damage across the affected states. Public officials emphasize reporting sightings and participating in eradication efforts precisely because the species is an invasive threat to the foundation of the country’s fruit and hardwood industries.