3 Native Insects Proven to Tackle Spotted Lanternfly Infestation
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Follow us on Google News or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!
📰 The quick summary: Native predator insects like stink bugs and mantises show promise in controlling invasive spotted lanternflies naturally, potentially reducing reliance on chemical pesticides.
📈 One key stat: Eight spined soldier bugs consistently consumed all lanternflies within 3-4 days in controlled settings, demonstrating their effectiveness as natural predators.
💬 One key quote: “By leveraging natural enemies already in the environment, we hope to develop a sustainable, low-impact approach to managing this invasive species that will complement other control methods,” said lead researcher and doctoral candidate Anne Johnson.
1️⃣ The big picture: Penn State researchers have discovered that several native insect species can effectively prey on the invasive spotted lanternfly, which has damaged US agriculture since 2014. The study found that spined soldier bugs and both Carolina and Chinese mantises are particularly good at consuming these pests. These findings suggest a potential eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides for controlling spotted lanternfly populations. This natural approach could help protect vineyards, orchards, and nurseries while reducing environmental impacts.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Native predator insects offer a sustainable solution for controlling spotted lanternflies without relying solely on chemical pesticides. These natural enemies are already present in the environment, requiring no introduction of new species. The predators remain effective regardless of whether lanternflies feed on toxic tree of heaven or other host plants. This biological control method fits well into existing integrated pest management strategies and helps preserve beneficial insects while targeting the invasive pest.
3️⃣ What’s next: Researchers plan to conduct field experiments to test the effectiveness of predator insects against spotted lanternflies in open environments without enclosures. The team emphasizes that predator insects should be part of a broader integrated pest management strategy rather than a standalone solution. Additional management options are available through Penn State Extension’s Spotted Lanternfly Management Guide.
Read the full story here: SciTechDaily – Can Predator Bugs Replace Pesticides in the Fight Against Lanternflies?
