Spotted Lanternfly Control in NYC

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive pest New York State is actively fighting — and if they are blanketing your trees, deck, and walls with sticky honeydew, treating your property helps both you and the wider effort. New York Exterminating runs season-long lanternfly suppression: treating the trees and surfaces they swarm, managing their favorite host tree, and destroying egg masses before they hatch. The work is led by an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) licensed in structural pest control, who can identify every life stage correctly.

Know what you are looking at — it changes all season

One reason the spotted lanternfly spreads is that it looks completely different through the year, and people do not recognize the early stages. Early nymphs (late spring) are small, black, with white spots. Late nymphs (mid-summer) turn red with black-and-white markings. Adults (late summer into fall) are about an inch long, gray with black-spotted forewings and a flash of red underwing when they jump. The egg masses (fall through spring) look like a smear of cracked grayish mud on bark, fences, walls, vehicles, or outdoor furniture. Knowing the stage tells us exactly how to treat — nymphs and adults get active treatment, egg masses get scraped and destroyed. We confirm the stage from a photo at no charge.

Why they matter, and the tree-of-heaven connection

Lanternflies do not bite or sting, but they are destructive and miserable to live with: as they feed they rain down sticky honeydew that coats decks, cars, and walkways, grows black sooty mold, and draws wasps to the sugar. They also threaten grapevines, fruit and hardwood trees, which is why New York asks residents to destroy them and report sightings. A key driver is tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), an invasive weed tree they strongly prefer — a property with it becomes a lanternfly magnet and breeding hub. Finding and managing those trees is one of the highest-impact steps we take.

Our process

1. Identify & assess. We confirm the life stage, gauge the population, and look for tree-of-heaven and the surfaces they congregate on.

2. Targeted treatment. We treat the affected trees and gathering surfaces and apply trap/barrier methods on heavily-hit trees during the growing season.

3. Host-tree management. We treat or recommend removal of tree-of-heaven to cut the breeding hub.

4. Egg-mass destruction. In fall and winter we scrape and destroy egg masses before they hatch — the step that reduces next year’s population.

Related services: Mosquito & Tick Control, Quarterly Maintenance Program, and Pest Identification.

Quick answers

Is the inspection free?

Yes — we identify the stage, assess your property, and quote a season-appropriate plan before any work.

Can you confirm from a photo?

Yes — email a clear photo of the insect or the egg mass and we will confirm it.

Do you treat commercial grounds and multi-unit properties?

Yes — residential yards, commercial grounds, and managed properties with trees across the five boroughs and metro.

Spotted Lanternfly FAQs

What does a spotted lanternfly look like at each stage?

It changes dramatically through the season, which is why people miss it. Early nymphs (late spring) are small and black with white spots; older nymphs (mid-summer) turn red with black and white markings. The adult (late summer into fall) is about an inch long with gray forewings dotted black and a striking red underwing that flashes when it jumps or flies. The egg masses (fall through spring) look like a smear of grayish, cracked mud on bark, walls, or any flat surface.

Are spotted lanternflies dangerous to people or pets?

No — they do not bite, sting, or carry disease, and they are harmless to handle. The damage is to plants and to your property surfaces. As they feed they excrete sticky honeydew that coats decks, cars, furniture, and walkways and grows black sooty mold, creating a slick, filthy mess and attracting wasps and other insects to the sugar.

Why is everyone told to kill them?

Because the spotted lanternfly is a serious invasive pest in New York. It feeds on dozens of plants — including grapevines, fruit trees, maples, and hops — and threatens agriculture and ornamental trees. New York State asks residents to destroy them and their egg masses and to report sightings. Reducing local populations and scraping egg masses genuinely helps slow the spread.

How do you control them on a property?

With an integrated approach tied to the season: targeted treatment of the trees and surfaces where they congregate, treatment or removal of the tree-of-heaven (their favorite host) where present, circfor trap and barrier methods on heavily-hit trees, and scraping and destroying egg masses in fall and winter. Because they constantly re-invade from surrounding areas, the goal is sustained suppression on your property, not a single spray.

What is tree-of-heaven and why does it matter?

Ailanthus altissima, or tree-of-heaven, is an invasive weed tree that spotted lanternflies strongly prefer. A property with tree-of-heaven becomes a magnet and a breeding hub. Identifying and managing those trees is one of the most effective long-term steps to reduce lanternfly pressure, so we look for it as part of the assessment.

When should I schedule lanternfly service?

It depends on the stage. Treatment is most active spring through fall while nymphs and adults are feeding; egg-mass scraping is a fall-through-early-spring task. The best results come from a season-long approach — knocking down nymphs and adults during the growing season and destroying egg masses before they hatch — so we plan service around the lifecycle on your property.

New York Exterminating, Inc.
1115 E 13th St, Brooklyn, NY 11230
ACE-Certified · Licensed in Structural & Food-Establishment Pest Control · Serving all five boroughs