OMG They finally reached my city.

[Figgerlickinggood]

The terrible pest The Spotted Lantern Fly.  Ugh!   My son just texted me from work,  he works at the Walmart here in Staunton.  Says they’re there’s a whole bunch of them there on the sidewalk.

 

[ktrain]

I'm sorry to hear that Teresa, but it is my understanding that they do not really damage fig trees?
I'm not certain what it is they are detrimental to.
Suppose I should look them up.

 

[Figgerlickinggood]

@Ktrain I remember the first time I saw them was on a YouTube video channel from someone call PA Figs. Those nasty buggers were always on his fig trees, especially when they were in their nymph stage.  It was amazing how fast they could move when he would try to catch them.

 

[ktrain]

So do they eat the figs or stems?
Or maybe just a nuisance pest....I'm more curious now. lol

 

[Figgerlickinggood]

Do you remember those nasty buggers reached Lou Monte’s house in New Jersey I think about a year ago now there here in Virginia.  Give it time they’ll be in Georgia in a couple of years.

 

[ktrain]

Do you remember those nasty buggers reached Lou Monte’s house in New Jersey I think about a year ago now there here in Virginia.  Give it time they’ll be in Georgia in a couple of years.

Unfortunately you're right...like we need another critter to hone in on my hobby. Gah :dodgy:

 

[9ah-figlet]

We’ve had them here for years, and they’re not a problem anymore (except grapes).

I never saw damage to my fig trees (just my cukes), and the wildlife evolved to recognize them as food.

https://www.inquirer.com/news/phila...ly-pennsylvania-new-jersey-delaware-tips.html

 

[DCallahan]

Same experience as Nina for me.
They showed up here 3 years ago.  The only damage I had to the fig trees was from me trying to do something about the SLF.
The first year was the greatest amount of them and it's been less each year. 
Funny quirk, they are quick to jump or fly the first 3 times but they loss all steam for the 4th move.

 

[bushdoctor82]

Agree with the two posts above this - no harm to figs or anything else I grow. I gave up trying to kill them a few years ago. I had a decent (relative) amount 4 years back and each year the population decreased and this year I barely saw any in the yard.

 

[ktrain]

Well all these replies set me more at ease if they end up down here.
Thanks good people

 

[TorontoJoe]

Yeah... I hear they're as far north as Buffalo now. I hope they're not into grapes... That's so close to the Niagara wine region.

 

[Figless]

@"Figgerlickinggood"#7 Teresa right now they are causing a tremendous amount of damage in Pennsylvania, mostly due to crop destruction. Apparently there's another invasive species called (The Tree Of Heaven). I guess it's the number one spotted lanternfly attractor. What's interesting was your mention of them congregating in a Walmart area. Apparently electrical cyclic vibrations of 60 megahertz seems to attract them in great numbers there was probably something creating that 60 megahertz vibration that got them all to congregate. I'm sorry you've got one more pass to deal with, especially because the Honeydew they produce is a great attractor of gray mold. They will soon have plug in 60 megahertz devices that will attract them to one spot in your garden. Where they can easily be dispensed with.

 

[2Angels]

I added a poll and want to explain. I am trying to learn the forum functions. So I added the question to see how that feature worked.   

:angel:

 

[ChesapeakeFigs]

Yup, as said above, for figs they are just an annoyance.   No real damage.  Most damage is done by people trying crazy things to get rid of them.  I had a discussion with one person that cut down a bunch of trees trying to get rid of them.  Which of course would not work.