Maryland Spotted Lanternfly Control Services
In Maryland, protecting your home or business from pests is a crucial part of maintenance. The spotted lanternfly is a particularly harmful pest in many eastern states, including Maryland. These pests are known to destroy trees and crops and can even damage outdoor property and be a nuisance to people. Spotted lanternfly prevention and control on the Eastern Shore of Maryland is crucial to keep this invasive pest from spreading to more areas causing damage. To protect your Eastern Shore of Maryland home or business from spotted lanternflies, you need to learn about the behavior of this pest, take steps for prevention, and find effective treatment options should an infestation occur.
Counties in Maryland with a Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine
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During these unprecedented times, Viking Pest is committed to keeping homes and businesses throughout NJ, PA, DE, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland healthy, safe, and pest-free. Viking Pest is open and providing contactless, exterior pest control services to keep invaders out of your home or business.
What Are Spotted Lanternflies?
Maryland pest control experts at Viking Pest explain the spotted lanternfly is an invasive species of planthopper originating from parts of eastern Asia, China, India, and Vietnam. This pest was first discovered in the U.S. in 2014 and it has since invaded a number of eastern states. The first sighting of this pest in Maryland was in 2018, and although there wasn’t a confirmed established population in Maryland at that time and isolated populations since, residents are advised to be diligent.
Maryland pest control experts at Viking Pest explain as adults, these pests feed mostly on other invasive, non-native species, the tree-of-heaven, but have also been known to feed on a variety of other plants like hops, hardwoods, and fruit trees. Young spotted lanternflies, known as nymphs, also feed on a wide variety of plants including apples, apricots, blueberries, grapes, pine, and poplar, to name just a few. These plant parasites can damage or even wipe out host plants with their mouthparts, and when they feed, they excrete a sugary substance called honeydew, which attracts other insects explain the MD pest control experts at Viking Pest. This honeydew can cover plants, be left on outdoor equipment, and even attract black sooty mold. This mold can further damage plants by keeping sunlight away from leaves. Some plants can even end up entirely covered in this substance.
How to Identify Spotted Lanternflies
Viking Pest’s certified entomologist, Craig, explains spotted lanternflies are about an inch long when fully grown. They have spotted front wings that are grayish in color and colorful hind wings with red, white, and black patterns. The spotted lanternfly’s body has yellow and black bands. These bugs lay tan eggs that are massed in groups of 30 to 50 and covered with a waxy, gray substance. Maryland pest control experts at Viking Pest explain these egg masses can be found on vertical plant surfaces. Young nymphs are black with white spots, and after molting, the older nymphs are red with black banding and white spots.
When Are Spotted Lanternflies Present on the Eastern Shore of Maryland?
Eastern Shore of Maryland pest control experts at Viking Pest explain although there are still few established populations in Maryland, there are populations of spotted lanternflies in neighboring states such as Pennsylvania and Delaware, and at least two counties in Maryland have been treated and quarantined. Adults are active and present in the months of fall, and offspring, both young and older nymphs, can be found in the spring and summer months. You’ll find egg masses from May to October, which is the best time to keep them under control if you see them in or around your MD building or home. And we recommend you contact a pest control expert for treatment options if you see spotted lanternflies on your property or think you have an infestation.
How to Prevent Spotted Lanternflies on the Eastern Shore of Maryland
The Maryland Department of Agriculture recommends inspecting plants around your home or business for signs of spotted lanternflies, and if you find any, you should notify the agency. Since spotted lanternflies can inflict so much damage to crops, plant life, and property, enlisting the help of the pest control professionals at Viking Pest is also highly recommended. Spotted lanternflies repopulate quickly and can be nearly impossible to control without the help of the pest control experts at Viking Pest. Viking Pest has the experience and tools to eliminate spotted lanternflies from the start when they’re masses of eggs attached to trees, bushes, or other plant surfaces. Spring is the best time to begin spotted lanternfly prevention in Maryland.
How Do You Protect Your Home or Business From Spotted Lanternflies?
Viking Pest offers treatment plans for both homeowners and businesses throughout Delaware. Viking utilizes a specially formulated liquid treatment to help eliminate the pest. Preventative “Knockdown” treatments are applied to trees and manmade surfaces throughout Spotted Lanternfly season. This re-occurring plan can start as early as May and continue to September 30. Customers can sign up mid-month or mid-season. Basal Trunk Treatments can be performed once per year starting in late July once trees have completely bloomed. Viking Pest offers spotted lanternfly treatments to the following counties on the Eastern Shore of Maryland: Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset, and Worcester.
What is the Liquid Treatment for Spotted Lanternflies?
As part of our ongoing service, Viking Pest will return to your home or business and apply a liquid treatment to designated trees. This treatment can only be applied during the months of July, August, or September, once trees have completely bloomed. This one-time liquid treatment must be scheduled around the forecast, as rain or precipitation cannot be expected for at least 12 hours after the application. Once applied, the treatment will not harm the tree nor any other vegetation and will act as a natural barrier helping protect the tree from Spotted Lanternflies. In a matter of days, the liquid will be absorbed into the roots and trunk, helping protect the tree from the inside out.
Does Viking Offer Spotted Lanternfly Treatments for Other Surfaces?
Yes, Viking Pest offers a liquid treatment for other surfaces. This knockdown treatment is designed to treat outdoor surfaces such as wood, shrubs, foundations of buildings, surfaces of buildings, porches, screens, window frames, eaves, patios, garages, refuse dumps, and other similar areas where these pests are active. This treatment cannot guarantee Spotted Lanternflies from returning, but it can help take the first step in controlling the population.
Protecting Your Maryland Home or Business From Spotted Lanternflies With Viking Pest Control
Viking Pest offers expert treatment designed to effectively and efficiently control and prevent spotted lanternflies from invading your home or business in Maryland. Our use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques focuses on finding the core of the pest concern and controlling spotted lanternflies from the source. Through IPM, pest control materials are selected and applied in a manner that minimizes risks to human health, pets, and the environment. Call Viking today for your FREE and NO OBLIGATION estimate at 1-800-618-2847 or schedule online today!