The Spotted Lanternfly: the species that invaded Towson University
By Matthew Stringer, contributing writer
‘See it, Squash it’ became synonymous on Towson University’s campus with an effort to help stop the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive species that scientists theorized could wreak havoc on multiple industries.
TU Professor of Biology Vanessa Beauchamp, with expertise in invasive species, identifies the Spotted Lanternfly as planthoppers that suck sap out of trees. She further states that they feast on grape vines and the tree of heaven. The tree of heaven is found all over the Towson campus and is the Spotted Lanternfly’s host tree, meaning the insects lay their eggs in them.
The Spotted Lanternfly is originally from Asia, but in 2014 it started to appear in Pennsylvania. Ever since then, the Spotted Lanternfly has spread out to neighboring states like Maryland and New York. Beauchamp says that the reason they are getting spread out so far is because they lay egg masses that look like dirt or mud, making them easily mistaken and displaced.
Spotted Lanternflies are recognized as an invasive species, but researchers are still not sure what their lasting effect on the environment might be.
“We don’t know exactly what’s going to happen with their effect on the environment. As far as we know that is not really any human health concern, but we don’t know if they’re gonna out-compete any insects that are already here,” Beauchamp said.
As the Spotted Lanternfly mainly hurts young trees and trees that are under stress by outside forces, Beauchamp said that the Spotted Lanternflies are less of a danger to TU’s environment, but more of a nuisance to humans.
Still, Towson University has taken action against the Spotted Lanternflies.
“When they were first reported being seen on campus, the Maryland Department of Agriculture required any sightings to be reported…and they worked with us about any types of treatment that needed to be done, or not done,” Donna Anderson, manager of Landscape Services at TU, said.
Anderson said that in 2023 the state of Maryland declared a Spotted Lanternfly quarantine to nearly every county to stop the spread. This involved mandatory reports of Spotted Lanternfly sightings and subsequent treatments.
Towson University’s treatment was done by a contractor hired by the University in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Anderson said that since the treatment, the Spotted Lanternflies haven’t been as much of a problem for Towson University.
Anderson confirmed that stomping on the Spotted Lanternfly does indeed help diminish their population.
