Squash the Bug: The Lantern Fly Invasion of Northeast Ohio – The Cauldron

The spotted lantern fly is an invasive species native to China and Vietnam that has found its way to the United States, feeding on a wide variety of crops that are integral to Northeast Ohio’s economy.

We are at war with these little pests. CSU students may have seen posters scattered around Berkman Hall and the Student Center about how we can defeat “the lantern fly invasion.”

Photo Credit: Ohio Department of Agriculture

Commuters, please check your car for any lantern flies. This is how they have spread to other counties in the state. If you see one…squash it. They are hearty pests and cannot be merely swatted away.

Northeast Ohio is the crown jewel of the Great Lakes. The Cleveland-Elyria metro region alone contributes over $120,000,000 to Ohio’s economy and the economic benefits of Lake Erie are immeasurable. The area has a national park just south of Cleveland, with dozens of local metro parks that allow us to get lost in the state’s natural beauty. Not to mention, a multitude of vineyards, orchards, and farmland in Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula, and Portage counties.

But an unwelcome visitor now threatens this crown jewel: the spotted lantern fly. They first arrived to the United States in 2014 in Pennsylvania, feeding on a variety of crops like corn, hops, apples and grapes. Lantern flies also feed on the starch reserves of plants that can decimate sensitive plants like grapes and the critically endangered ash tree. Their waste product–feces–accelerates the growth of fungal diseases on plants that threatens growth. 

The lantern flies’ feeding habits are especially problematic for Ohio crops. Lantern fly nymphs suck the sap out of young branches on trees, while adults tend to attack fully grown trees and grape vines, leading to wilting leaves and growth of black sooty mold that further devastate grape vines and orchards. 

Ashtabula county is home to over a dozen wineries that generate millions of dollars in economic development in the region. Not only do they provide essential jobs, they also bolster Northeast Ohio’s burgeoning tourism sector, which saw over 16 million visitors in 2021. 

Egg clutches are harder to kill than mature lanternflies. The United States Department of Agriculture recommends scoping them into a container of at least 90% alcohol or any household hand sanitizer. 

If you see a lanternfly, report it by contacting the Ohio Department of Agriculture at (614) 728-6201.

Join the battle. Beat the bug!