Gardening: How worried should you be about spotted lanternflies and armyworms? What to know

There are several recent developments with insects and birds that are of interest to gardeners in Greater Columbus. This week, we'll explore three issues.

Inspect for spotted lanternfly 

As The Dispatch reported on Sept. 4, the non-native spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) was found on the east of Cleveland this month, causing concern for gardeners who tend grape vines and fruit trees. 

This colorful pest from Southeast Asia was first found in Ohio near Steubenville last summer and was seen for the first time in the United States in Pennsylvania in 2014.

This pest kills grape vines, fruit trees, blueberry bushes and hops as well as oak, poplar, pine, and walnut trees by inserting its piercing mouthpiece into stems and leaves and sucking sap from its host. 

Invasive threat:Spotted lanternflies, which destroy trees, found living east of Cleveland

The pest leaves behind holes that continue to “bleed” sap from the plant causing the plant to die.

Spotted lanternfly is a known hitchhiker and is spread by vehicles travelling through locations where the pest has been identified. 

Both of the locations where the pest has been found in Ohio were along railroad tracks, and speculation is that the spotted lanternfly was introduced to Ohio by trains traveling through heavily infested portions of Pennsylvania.

Gardeners should be on the lookout for this pest as now through November is the best time of the year to spot the menace, when it is in its most recognizable stage as a colorful winged adult. 

Spotted lanternfly adults are one inch in size and resemble a moth. The body of the insect is black with tan, black-and-red-colored wings with black spots.

The key to preventing infestations of spotted lanternfly and other exotic invasive pests is vigilance, early detection and prompt eradication of the pests as they are discovered.

For unknown reasons, spotted lanternfly is attracted to the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), a tree that is also an invasive species! 

Gardeners should closely inspect these trees for spotted lanternfly and report suspected finds to the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Plant Pest Control Division at 1-800-728-6400.

If no invaders are found, however, gardeners can simply pull tree of heaven or treat with an herbicide such as Roundup.

Armyworm issues, treatment

This semi-tropical pest arrived in Greater Columbus last month, carried north from southern states on the jet stream associated with tropical storms.   

The larval stage of this insect has caused significant, but very scattered damage to turf grass in Greater Columbus, and a second generation of this pest may be on the way later this month or early October before colder temperatures arrive and kill the menace.

Control of this pest, which quickly destroys turf grass, can be achieved with the application of a soil insecticide containing carbaryl or a pyrethroid. Areas of turf grass with new bare spots or areas with dead turf should be inspected to determine whether fall armyworms are present.

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To determine if your lawn has armyworms, mix a tablespoon of dish detergent in a watering can filled with warm water and dump the mixture on the ground. If armyworms are present, they will quickly emerge from the soil.

Birdfeeder advisory lifted

Last week, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife lifted the advisory issued earlier this summer to remove bird feeders when a mysterious illness caused the death of various species of songbirds in Ohio and other states. 

Although the cause of the illness has not been identified, the death of birds ceased weeks ago. The illness primarily affected immature and fledgling birds and the breeding season for songbirds has ended.

Many songbird diseases can be passed through bird feeders, so cleaning feeders weekly with a 10% household bleach solution is recommended.

Dead or diseased birds should be reported to the Ohio Division of Wildlife at wildohio.gov.