22 August 2023
Invasive noticed lanternflies are swarming over Pittsburgh at this time, particularly close to the railroad tracks. Everybody desires to kill them however the first answer that comes up on any Google seek is an excessively, very unhealthy one. NEVER EVER use sticky tape to seize bugs. Glue tape kills birds!
Audubon Information, the supply of the embedded photograph above, wrote concerning the hazards of glue tape ultimate March: Intended to Catch Noticed Lanternflies, Glue Traps Are a Scary Danger for Birds. Handiest 10% of the trapped birds live on, even supposing they’re taken to a rehabber.
Raven Ridge Natural world Middle in Lancaster County, PA has years of revel in with the hurt brought about by way of sticky tape. This Fb document from 17 August 2023 is only one of them. 3 of the 4 trapped woodpeckers died and the fourth is in bother.
So what are you able to do to kill lanternflies?
For timber use the Circle Lure. You’ll be able to make it your self. Directions discovered right here.
For house, make a easy vinegar lure :
Immediately white vinegar plus dish liquid — possibly a 1/2 tsp — to damage the outside rigidity. (Insect by-catch on this photograph: a cicada.) Due to John English for this advice.
For private fight there are many answers: Electrical “Tennis Racket” computer virus zappers, the Malicious program a Salt Gun, and so on. discovered by way of Amazon searches.
Watch a champion noticed lanternfly killer use those gear in a video from VICENews:
video from VICENews on YouTube
p.s. Why are noticed lanternflies extra prevalent close to railroad tracks? They arrived as egg lots caught to railcars and hatched from there. Their host tree is the Ailanthus, an invsaive weed that grows alongside the rail strains. They had been first present in southwestern PA at a rail backyard in Beaver County in 2020.
(photograph and video credit are within the captions)