What Kind of Damage Do Spotted Lanternflies Cause in Crozet, VA?

Spotted lanternflies are invasive planthoppers that feed on the sap of more than 70 kinds of trees and plants. They pierce the plants with their mouthparts and draw sap straight from trunks, stems, and branches. They tend to feed in large groups. Their favorites include tree-of-heaven, maples, black walnut, willows, fruit trees, and grapevines.

This may sound like normal insect behavior, but it’s a major problem. The feeding frenzy is beyond what most other insects do, and it puts serious stress on plants. After an encounter with spotted lanternflies, plants can be left wilting with curled leaves and oozing sap. You might see a dieback in the branches and a general loss of vigor. Most established shade trees can survive an infestation. But surviving does not mean thriving, and they will be weakened all the same. Younger trees and grapevines can be hit much harder still.

Spotted Lanternflies Leave Honeydew and Sooty Mold on Plants

The way spotted lanternflies feed is bad enough. That’s not the full extent of the damage done, though. As spotted lanternflies feed, they excrete a sugary substance called honeydew, and they produce a lot of it. It coats leaves, branches, and anything sitting underneath, including patios, decks, cars, and outdoor furniture around your Crozet home.

That honeydew then grows a black fungus. It’s called sooty mold. On plants, the mold can coat the leaves and interfere with photosynthesis. On your deck or driveway, it can leave a sticky, blackened mess. The sweet honeydew also draws in wasps, hornets, ants, and bees, none of which are particularly fun company.

Spotted lanternflies don’t bite or sting people or pets. They don’t need to. Their swarms and the mess they leave behind are more than enough to make outdoor spaces hard to enjoy.

Why Spotted Lanternflies Are a Serious Threat Around Crozet

Crozet sits at the foot of the Blue Ridge in the middle of Virginia wine and orchard country. That’s part of why spotted lanternflies are such a problem here. Grapevines are among the plants most vulnerable to their feeding. A heavy infestation can badly damage a vineyard’s vines and cut into its harvest. Apple and peach orchards have similar problems.

Even if you are not growing grapes or apples, the ornamental trees, maples, and gardens around Albemarle County homes give this pest plenty to feed on. That’s why keeping the population in check matters for the whole community. It’s not just a problem for farms.

How Professional Spotted Lanternfly Control in Crozet Can Help

At Mosquito Squad Plus of Charlottesville, we treat spotted lanternflies at the source. We use a backpack blower to treat the foliage where they like to rest, then apply a systemic product around the infested trees and bushes. That product is then drawn up through the root system and the spotted lanternflies ingest it. This is the best way to reduce the presence of spotted lanternflies on your property.

Before we build your plan, our local technicians walk your property. They find the areas most at risk of spotted lanternfly problems and then treat accordingly. After the initial treatment, they come back on a regular basis so you can count on continued reduction and control throughout the season.

For Reliable Spotted Lanternfly Control in Crozet, VA Near You

Seeing spotted lanternflies or sooty mold around your Crozet property? Call Mosquito Squad Plus of Charlottesville at (434) 363-9274 or contact us online for a free quote.