Lantern flies galore!

[DBuck]

Walked around a piece of state land that I came across today. Couldn’t even venture a guess on how many trees were covered with lantern flies like this.

 

[Ron]

Pequest area is absolutely covered in them. There are many areas that are covered in them also I just happen to live right here and see them all over the play. Now it is on that one particular tree, but that tree is everywhere around here. 

[Monster Marine]

That’s a weed that grew I forget the name ….. 

seems like they are attracted to that species a bit more 

just removed 4 of those trees behind a Sunoco everything around seems wet … 

after observing for a bit I noticed what looked like rain drops actually was urine from the bugs I never seen anything like it …

They were all dripping 

they were everywhere 

Edited September 5, 2022 by Monster Marine

[Bucksnbows]

51 minutes ago, Ron said:

Pequest area is absolutely covered in them. There are many areas that are covered in them also I just happen to live right here and see them all over the play. Now it is on that one particular tree, but that tree is everywhere around here. 

Chinese ailanthus trees are the native species for the spotted lantern flies. That’s the tree in Dbuck’s post as well. Find an ailanthus and you will find it covered with lantern flies. 

[ModernOutdoorsMan]

To be honest I’ve seen significantly less around where I am, somerset/union/morris area. Night and day difference compared to last year

[Bucksnbows]

15 minutes ago, ModernOutdoorsMan said:

To be honest I’ve seen significantly less around where I am, somerset/union/morris area. Night and day difference compared to last year

So it turns out what we are learning about this still new(ish) infestation is that in places where they appear for the first time, their numbers are very dense. But where they show in year 2 or 3, not nearly as bad. The fear was they would do mass destruction, but the jury is still out. So far, the trend of them being EVERYWHERE in year one and much fewer in subsequent years gives some hope. 

[ModernOutdoorsMan]

2 minutes ago, Bucksnbows said:

So it turns out what we are learning about this still new(ish) infestation is that in places where they appear for the first time, their numbers are very dense. But where they show in year 2 or 3, not nearly as bad. The fear was they would do mass destruction, but the jury is still out. So far, the trend of them being EVERYWHERE in year one and much fewer in subsequent years gives some hope. 

Bingo, that’s been my observation. Time will tell

[BowhunterNJ]

I've heard a lot of people saying they're hardly seeing them this year after being infested last year or year before.   Good sign. 

[Nomad]

Heavy two years in a row here.  Z5

[Russ 11]

Agree with Nomad . Maybe worse this year . 

[Buck154]

I have one tree that is covered 

[Russ 11]

4 minutes ago, Buck154 said:

I have one tree that is covered 

You gotta kill them John 

[Nomad]

I use a fly swatter.  I think I am making a real dent in the population…

[mike033089]

What’s interesting is how they can be everywhere and not far away almost non existent.  I’m in zone 5 near yards creek and on my property there hasn’t been huge numbers ever of them. They are here but not in large groups or everywhere you look. 

[Nomad]

Driving down the road the pavement is soaked from those Chinese piss flies.  Your bicycle tires stick to it and make a strange noise I thought I was getting a flat tire.