This section only discusses "controlling" these invasives because eliminating them has proven to be very difficult. It is now clear that any control methodology must be an ongoing, multi-year endeavor. Bear in mind that controlling these invasives must not come at the expense of other critical habitat such as honeybees.

 

There are literally terabytes of information on the web about these these invasives and techniques that can be used to control them. The "More Info" section provides links to some excellent sources that were used to create this website. Unfortunately, it requires a significant amount of time to read and understand this mountain of information. The intent of this section is to distill all of that data into a safe and effective control methodology that can be used in residential properties. This recommended methodology is based on the following:

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1. There is currently no way to effectively control either invasive without the use of pesticides.

2. A certified pest control applicator should apply all pesticides. Pesticides improperly applied can be extremely dangerous to humans, wildlife and plant life. Hire a trained professional.

3. Only pesticides that have been approved by the Department of Agriculture and proven to be minimally toxic to pollinators should be used. Based on the sources used to create this website, the following pesticides are highly recommended:

   • Organic Golden Pest Spray Oil: This is an EPA registered product (whose main ingredient is soybean oil) that has been approved for use on gypsy moth and spotted lanternfly egg masses. The NJ Department of Agriculture (NJDOA) uses this product to suffocate lanternfly egg masses in the spring.

   • Mineral Oil: The Penn State Extension recommends the use of a horticultural spray containing a high percentage of mineral oil to suffocate egg masses; products like JMS Stylet oil, Damoil and Lesco Horticultural oil.

   • Neem Oil: The Penn State extension indicates that neem oil is somewhat effective against the spotted lanternfly and, if applied properly, should pose no danger to pollinators.

   • Triclopyr: An herbicide that, when applied properly to the the Tree of Heaven via foliar spray, is "practically non-toxic to bees" according to the EPA. This is the primary herbicide used by the NJDOA to control the Tree of Heaven in the summer and fall.

4. Never try to eliminate the Tree of Heaven by simply cutting them down or mowing over saplings. These techniques do not deal with the underlying root system and will simply exacerbate the problem, causing saplings to spring up all over your property ... sometimes as far away as 50 feet from the cut tree!

5. Per the Penn State Extension, systemic treatment of trees with triclopyr and dinotefuran should begin no earlier than July 1 and no later than mid-September, when fall colors begin to appear.

 

With all of this in mind, a recommended annual strategy for controlling these invasives on residential property is shown below. In addition, understand and comply with New Jersey's Quarantine Restrictions.  If you have any questions regarding this strategy, please contact the Cranbury Environmental Commission.

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Spring

 

1. Inspect your property for Spotted Lanternfly egg masses. If found:
    

   • Notify the NJ Department of Agriculture using through this website.

   • Eliminate them manually (using the scrape method) or by covering them with a natural oil product such as Golden Pest Spray Oil or JMS Stylet-Oil. Remember that 80-90% of all egg masses deposited on trees are over 10 feet above the ground.
      

2. Inspect your property for the Tree of Heaven. If found:
    

   • Contact the Cranbury Shade Tree Commission and report your sighting. If you are not 100% confident that you have correctly identified the tree, they will provide assistance to confirm your sighting.

   • Wait until early summer to begin the eradication process.
      

3. Try to eradicate nymphs:

   • Most manual methods for killing nymphs (tree banding, squashing, etc) are only minimally effective. If you do decide to band your trees with sticky tape to capture nymphs, be sure to minimize by-catch by covering the sticky tape with a mesh or screen barrier as shown in this video. Note that banding is only possible on trees of sufficient thickness.

   • An environmentally effective method for killing nymphs is to spray them directly with Neem Oil, a naturally occurring pesticide found in seeds from the neem tree. While not a foolproof, Neem Oil is practically non-toxic to birds, mammals, bees and plants. It’s available on Amazon but you may wish to have a Pest Control professional perform this step.

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Early Summer

 

Beginning on July 1, after all Tree of Heaven on your property have leafed, apply triclopyr (using either a foliar spray or the "hack and squirt" method) to all Tree of Heaven, male and female, including saplings and suckers. This should be done by a qualified Pest Control professional.

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Late Summer / Early Fall

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1. Repeat a foliar spray of triclopyr on any new saplings or suckers that have sprung up.

2. Cut down all dead and dying Tree of Heaven and treat all stumps with triclopyr to further ensure the death of the underlying root system.

3. Safely dispose of all dead trees in accordance with NJDOA requirements: "Final disposal of regulated articles shall be in a manner that does not leave material that may be infected or allow movement of the Spotted Lanternfly".

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Late Fall / Winter

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1. Inspect your property for new Spotted Lanternfly egg masses. If found eliminate them manually (using the scrape method) or by covering them with a natural oil product such as Golden Pest Spray Oil.