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| Dead Spotted Lanternflies in a Bucket |
How to Kill and Remove Spotted Lanternflies
Killing and removing Spotted Lanternflies can help reduce their populations and prevent their spread.
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| One smoosh prevents 50 more flies next year! |
Hand Removal:
Stomp, Step, Smash
Put on a pair of old shoes, bring the kids, and have a good ol Stomp fest. Make it competition. Whoever steps on the most in 10 minutes wins!
Vacuuming
Use a handheld vacuum cleaner to remove Spotted Lanternflies from plants, trees, or other surfaces. Empty the vacuum bag or container immediately to prevent escape. It is important that the flies are not able to escape. Consider placing them in isopropyl alcohol to completely destroy them.
Soap and Water Spray
Mix a small amount of dish soap and water in a spray bottle and spray directly on Spotted Lanternfly. The soap will coat the insect's respiratory system and suffocate it.
Vinegar Spray
Vinegar can be an effective and natural way to control the population of spotted lanternflies, which are an invasive species that can cause significant damage to plants and crops. Vinegar is an acidic substance that can damage the exoskeletons of insects, including the spotted lanternfly, and ultimately kill them.
To use vinegar to control spotted lanternflies, you can create a simple vinegar solution by mixing equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Then, spray the solution directly on the lanternflies or the plants they are feeding on. Be sure to thoroughly saturate the insects or plants, as the vinegar needs to come into contact with the lanternflies to be effective.
Does Neem Oil Work on Spotted Lanternflies?
Neem oil is a natural insecticide that can repel and kill spotted lanternflies. You can mix neem oil with water and spray the solution on your plants and trees.
Alcoholic Solution Spray
Mix an alcoholic solution, such as rubbing alcohol or ethanol, with water in a spray bottle and spray directly on Spotted Lanternfly. The alcohol will dissolve the insect's protective wax layer and dehydrate it.
Bottle Trick #1
The bottle trick is a simple and effective method for trapping and removing Spotted Lanternflies. Here are the steps to perform the bottle trick:
- Get a plastic water bottle or soda bottle with a screw-on cap. Clear bottles work best, but any color will do.
- Cut off the top of the bottle just below the neck. The opening should be large enough to accommodate a Spotted Lanternfly but not too large that it can easily escape.
- Invert the top section of the bottle and insert it back into the bottom section. The bottle cap should be at the bottom and the opening at the top.
- Wrap the bottle with a dark-colored tape or paint it black to create a dark environment that attracts Spotted Lanternflies.
- Apply an adhesive, such as Tanglefoot or petroleum jelly, to the inside of the bottle opening.
- Hang the bottle in a tree or other location where Spotted Lanternflies are present. Make sure it is at eye level and visible to the insects.
- Check the bottle regularly and remove any trapped Spotted Lanternflies.
The idea behind the bottle trick is that Spotted Lanternflies are attracted to the dark environment inside the bottle and will fly towards it. Once inside, they will be stuck to the adhesive and unable to escape. The bottle trap is a non-toxic method for removing Spotted Lanternflies and can be used in conjunction with other control methods as part of an integrated pest management plan.
Bottle Trick
This involves using an empty plastic bottle to catch and remove individual Spotted Lanternflies. Here are the steps to perform the trick:
- Find a Spotted Lanternfly on a plant or surface.
- Slowly move an empty plastic bottle towards the insect, with the mouth of the bottle facing the bug.
- Place the mouth of the bottle directly in front of the Spotted Lanternfly and move it closer until the insect jumps into the bottle.
- Once the Spotted Lanternfly has jumped inside the bottle, quickly close the mouth of the bottle by placing your thumb over it.
- Hold the bottle with the Spotted Lanternfly inside and release the insect in a location away from your property.
The idea behind this trick is that Spotted Lanternflies will often jump when they sense danger. By positioning the bottle mouth near the insect, you can trick it into jumping inside the bottle. Once inside, you can easily trap the insect by covering the mouth of the bottle with your thumb or cap. Add alcohol or vinegar to the bottle to kill them instantly. Or pour them into a bucket of alcohol, or vinegar, or soap and water afterwards to kill them all. Here is a great video demonstrating how many lanternflies you can catch actively using this method.
Bug-A-Salt:
Flamethrower:
I mean, you could do this, but don't. Seriously, don't do this. Unless you're a highly trained professional.
Circle Traps for Spotted Lanternflies:
The traps consist of a circular ring made of a flexible material, such as fabric or plastic, with a skirt-like attachment at the bottom made of a fine mesh. The skirt prevents the insects from escaping once they climb up the trap. The traps are usually brightly colored, with yellow being a common color, as spotted lanternflies are attracted to this color.
To use a circle trap, you should place it around the trunk of a tree or post in an area where spotted lanternflies are present. The trap should be positioned at a height that is easily visible and accessible to the insects. The spotted lanternflies will be attracted to the bright color of the trap and will try to climb it. Once they reach the top of the trap, they will crawl onto the mesh skirt and become trapped.
Once the trap is full of insects, it should be removed and the insects should be disposed of in a sealed container to prevent them from spreading. This helps to keep the population of spotted lanternflies under control and reduces their impact on plants and trees. Here's more info on how to build a circle trap.