“By teaching computers what the eggs look like, we can identify and eliminate them more efficiently, hopefully stopping the spread.”ĭrexel researchers have previously used similar techniques to identify cracks and defects in infrastructure and manufacturing. Computer vision coupled with machine learning is being explored to identify the egg masses in those hard-to-reach places. Now, they can be laid in places that are dangerous for people to look for them, like under cars or trains,” explains Maureen Tang, PhD, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering and one of the project’s lead researchers. “It’s likely that lanternflies came to the United States as egg clusters attached to some kind of cargo. With temperatures cooling, most adult lanternflies will die off, leaving behind egg clusters that will begin the life cycle anew next spring. A new research collaboration between the College of Engineering and the Academy of Natural Sciences is trying to help. The invasive species has spread to at least seven states in the mid-Atlantic and shows no signs of stopping. Since it was first detected in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014, the spotted lanternfly has become the focus of gardeners’ ire - and the target of many stomping feet - with the coming of every recent spring and summer. Contact your local arborist to find out which treatments may help decrease the likelihood of infestation on your landscape trees.Photo: Walthery, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons If you have common host trees to spotted lanternflies, it is recommended to take precautionary measures to avoid infestation. This is something your local arborist can assist you with. It is also helpful to report any sightings to your state’s Department of Agriculture. If egg masses are found, they should be scraped off, smashed, and double bagged before being thrown away. This pest lays eggs on multiple surfaces and can be easily transported to new breeding grounds, so as soon as damage is visible, locating new eggs before they hatch is crucial. Proper identification is important to managing spotted lanternfly. Female spotted lanternflies lay their eggs on various vertical surfaces such as: Honeydew can attract wasp and bee populations but can also be a growth medium for fungi such as sooty mold, which can stunt the growth of the tree and cause further damage. Spotted lanternflies secrete a sugary, sticky substance called honeydew. In severe cases, the entire tree’s foliage may be wilting, and the trunk could have open, oozing wounds. The most noticeable symptom of spotted lanternfly is wilted trees. They are also known to favor valuable crop plants such as grapes, hops, and orchard fruits. Spotted lanternflies attack various landscape trees including: They have black legs and heads and yellow and black abdomens. Hindwings are a vivid rose-red color with black tips and a white band running down the center. Adults are about 1” long with gray forewings that have black spots. Hatched nymphs are black with white dots. This insect’s eggs are laid in masses about 1” long and may look like patches of crusted mud. The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect species native to Asia.
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