• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
RTEC Treecare

RTEC Treecare

Expert Tree Care in the DC Metro Area | Call 703-573-3029 to talk to a Tree Care Expert.

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Serve
      • Government
      • Commercial Environmental Services
      • Residential
    • Our Story
    • Our Team
    • Our Core Values
    • Testimonials
  • Plant Health Care
  • Tree Maintenance
  • Careers
    • We Are an Equal Opportunity Employer
    • We Welcome Veterans and Military Service Members
    • RTEC Benefits
    • RTEC Is Now Hiring
  • Blog
  • 703-573-3029
  • Contact Us

Keep an Eye Out: The Destructive Spotted Lanternfly Is Coming to Your Yard

Resources: Environmental Services

Imagine this – it’s Labor Day weekend and your family is coming by for one last summer get-together. The weather is perfect; the once sweltering days have finally cooled down to a comfortable warmth. You can’t wait to host the celebration in your yard! There’s just one problem – your entire yard is utterly drenched in the sticky sap excretions of the spotted lanternfly.

One spotted lanternfly with its forewings closed.
An adult spotted lanternfly.

The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive pest that threatens the sanctity of every yard it enters. Originally native to China, this hitchhiker is known for its ability to travel long distances. It can attach itself (and its egg masses) to a plethora of surfaces (cars, packages, timber, etc.). Since the first USA spotting in Pennsylvania in 2014, they have spread to at least 11 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia – and they aren’t stopping. In fact, the infestations are so severe that people have had to cancel entire events, including special days like weddings and graduations. 

Hundreds of adult spotted lanternflies on an infested tree.
Hundreds of adult spotted lanternflies on an infested tree. Photo Credit: Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org

What is the Risk?

Spotted lanternflies are infesting new areas quickly, and the threat is closing in on us. Thus, the layers of sap over your patio are just the beginning of their terror. Similar to aphids or scale, these one-inch large bugs excrete a sticky fluid – commonly referred to as “honeydew”. They can spread it onto plants, cars, outdoor furniture, and virtually anything they come into contact with. The honeydew possesses a fermented odor and can fuel the growth of sooty mold on your plants. Henceforth, plants face a significant threat from the fungi growth and the stress of hundreds of spotted lanternflies feeding on it.

Not only are your quality of life and backyard at risk, but so is our food system. Currently, the effects of spotted lanternflies impacts both the forestry and agriculture industries. According to economists, there can be billions of dollars in damages if this pest is not maintained.

Do you see any of your favorites here? They’re at risk.

Agricultural:

  • Almonds
  • Apples
  • Apricots
  • Cherries
  • Grapes
  • Hops
  • Nectarines
  • Peaches
  • Plums

Forestry:

  • Maple Trees
  • Oak Trees
  • Pine Trees
  • Poplar Trees
  • Sycamore Trees
  • Walnut Trees
  • Willow Trees

Interestingly, the host plant of choice among spotted lanternflies is the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima). The tree of heaven is also an invasive species. One would think this is a match made in heaven – having one invasive species take out the other, however, this is not the case. Even if we were to remove all of the trees of heaven, there are still over 70 other species known to host these nuisances. Our only choice is to take action.

Branch infested with adult spotted lanternflies.
Tree branch infested with adult spotted lanternflies.

What is Being Done?

The United States Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) has issued quarantines for the areas where heavy infestations of spotted lanternflies have been identified. In effect as of July 8th, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has declared a quarantine for Prince William County, Manassas, Winchester, Warren county, and more. Consequently, areas under quarantine are subjected to regulations for transporting high-risk material that may bring the spotted lanternfly into non-infested areas.

Spotted lanternfly nymphs on a branch.
Spotted lanternfly nymphs can vary in color and patterns.

What You Can Do:

The USDA-APHIS recommends removing and killing spotted lanternflies, “Crush nymphs and adult insects. Scrape egg masses into a plastic bag containing hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol to kill them.” If you can confidently identify the spotted lanternfly in its various stages, you can take direct action to get rid of them. Contrarily, if you have a large population on your property, it will be most effective to leave treatments up to the professionals. That is why we have designed the Spotted Lanternfly Population Intensive Smart-Treat™ Regimen to protect your trees. Our program is designed to prevent the stress damage to your tree from the inside-out. We are here to help you keep your yard safe and functional.

Here are some other vital actions that you can take to protect our area:

  • Report sightings of any spotted lanternflies directly to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services here.
  • If traveling to infested areas, be sure to leave your car windows up.
  • Inspect yourself and your belongings before traveling. Here is a handy checklist to go over if you are planning to travel to a quarantined area.

Just because the spotted lanternfly is coming doesn’t mean you or your trees have to suffer! Speak to our arborist about our Plant Health Care Inspections so that a professional is regularly looking out for these pests. Already seeing these pests? Call us at 703-573-3029 to learn more about our Spotted Lanternfly Population Intensive Smart-Treat™ Regimen!

Up close image of a spotted lantern fly with its wings expanded, showing its entire body.

Noticing This Bug?

We’ve got you covered. Schedule with a certified arborist today!

Book Now

Primary Sidebar

Find a Certified Arborist in Your Area!

Google Reviews

Grey Burkhart
Grey Burkhart
March 29, 2022.
Verified
Very professional review of our requirements and an accurate estimate. Showed up on time and were finished quickly. Cleaned up all of the debris and sawdust. Great job all around.
Dennis Bruns
Dennis Bruns
March 8, 2022.
Verified
We have used RTEC Treecare for several years. They do excellent work. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and take great care in explaining the various options available for your particular situation. I highly recommend them.
Annette Iannucci
Annette Iannucci
February 23, 2022.
Verified
We have been using RTEC for years and were very pleased with the recent tree maintenance work they did for us. As always, we got good advice from their arborist Ben,. The crew that did the work is highly skilled, and they did a great job trimming our trees. They worked safely and efficiently, in addition to leaving the yard clean after they finished the work.
Susan Crawford
Susan Crawford
January 26, 2022.
Verified
RTEC was at my house today to removed a large Magnolia that was badly damaged by the recent snow. They did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price. They arrived right on time, worked efficiently and quickly and cleaned up so well it was hard to tell anything have been disturbed. Over the past several years, I have used RTEC for all the services I checked above, and have always been very pleased with their service and professionalism. I also appreciate that they are not eager to take down trees that don't need to come down. In this case, the damage was too extensive for the tree to recover.
Kenton Morgan
Kenton Morgan
January 20, 2022.
Verified
Once again, RTEC has done a great job. The team showed up right on time and performed all the work that we agreed to. They kept us informed as to progress, coordinated with us concerning our maple, and made recommendations concerning ongoing support for our trees. At the end of the day, they thoroughly cleaned up the debris and left our yard in pristine condition. WELL DONE.
Jean Kluttz
Jean Kluttz
January 3, 2022.
Verified
Not our first time but this time was tricky removal of a large dead tree leaning on a healthy tree. Quick response for estimate, good timing to removal, all clear and healthy tree still fine.
Jerry Haggin
Jerry Haggin
December 16, 2021.
Verified
Very good work while ensuring that I was aware of status of my work order and planned completion.
Mike Iger
Mike Iger
December 16, 2021.
Verified
David Roberts
David Roberts
December 15, 2021.
Verified
We’ve used RTEC for many years for tree maintenance and can’t say enough good things about their service. We use them for tree trimming and for regular treatments to maintain our trees’ health and deal with pests and prevent disease. Their arborist Ben has been especially helpful with advice. RTEC also been especially helpful in emergency situations, once coming to cable a massive, heritage oak in our yard right before a hurricane was about to hit. Highly recommend.
Travis Larson
Travis Larson
December 10, 2021.
Verified
RTEC did an excellent job onsite of removing dead branches from our 80+ year old trees, and trimming other growth too close to our home.
Google rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 185 reviews.

Resources Library

  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Maintenance
  • Tree Problems
  • Environmental Services
  • Seasonal Tree Care

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADDRESS:
2828 Mary Street
Falls Church, VA 22042

EMAIL: admin@rtectreecare.com
PHONE: 703.573.3029

Copyright © 2022 · RTEC Tree Care · All Rights Reserved

  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS
  • Privacy Policy
  • COOKIE POLICY