Last summer, swarms of Brood X cicadas invaded parts of New Jersey. Now it’s those pesky spotted lanternflies that are wreaking havoc — in huge numbers.
Scores of those colorful, but invasive, insects were recently seen swarming a 12-story apartment building in downtown Jersey City, according to video shot by a local resident.
The huge swarm was captured on a video clip posted on Instagram by longtime Jersey City resident Marc Wesson, who expressed concern that the bugs could invade trees and plants in Van Vorst Park, which is only two blocks away from the apartment building on Grand Street that was targeted by the bugs.
“They look like they crash into the glass on the upper floors and fall to the sidewalk,” Wesson wrote in a post on his Instagram page on Aug. 4.
Wesson said he belongs to a non-profit organization that created the park 23 years ago, when it was just a lot full of mud and hypodermic needles.
“We have improved and maintained it since then, so I’m concerned about having to deal with an infestation that may jeopardize all of our work, and an oasis for the community,” he said in an email to NJ Advance Media.
Representatives from the apartment building could not immediately be reached for comment.
Wesson said spotted lanternflies have been seen all across Jersey City.
“They seem to be drawn to glass high rises, and get stunned by hitting the glass and fall to the sidewalk,” he said. “There are multiple new buildings downtown that are seeing the same mass gathering of the lanternfly. They are also anywhere there are Ailanthus trees, which are their major host.”
Many spotted lanternflies are still going through their nymph cycle of life, so they are tiny — with red and black blotches and white spots. As the summer progresses, most of those nymphs will get larger and grow wings.
The bugs seen on the Jersey City video appear to be adult lanternflies, and many were crawling their way up doors and windows in droves. Wesson said on Instagram that the lanternflies were sprayed with agriculture-grade vinegar, which killed most of the insects.
However, Wesson is concerned about newly planted trees in the nearby park.
During the past few years, spotted lanternflies have been seen in New Jersey and 10 other states — Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
Agriculture officials and bug experts have urged people to kill any spotted lanternflies that are seen around homes or businesses, to prevent them from causing damage to trees and plants.
Even though the Tree of Heaven is the spotted lanternfly’s main target, these insects can damage or kill more than 70 varieties of trees, shrubs and ornamental plants, according to bug experts at Rutgers University. Lanternflies also prey on red maple trees, black walnut trees, willow trees and grapevines, posing a potential threat to the wine industry.
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Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com.
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