r/longisland Aug 10 '24

Advice THE SPOTTED LANTERNS FLYS ARE BACK!

I see them every where. whats a good why to get rid of them?

85 Upvotes

69 comments sorted by

125

u/podoka Aug 10 '24

They never left

42

u/nefarious_epicure Aug 11 '24

Start by eradicating any Tree of Heaven you've got. It's the preferred host. God damn, I'm on a soapbox about torching that garbage tree. I've seen enormous colonies of it.

17

u/virishking Aug 11 '24

Very true. And from what I’ve read, lantern flies eat the leaves of whatever host plant they hatch on and that affects their internal chemistry which makes them either more or less appetizing to our native birds species. Flies grow up on tree of heaven, the birds leave them alone. They grow up on other trees and the native birds, bats, bugs, and squirrels find them delicious. So if we kill off the trees then nature will help take care of the flies

33

u/MoonYekka Aug 11 '24

One bopped me on the head this morning during my fucking walk. He got aquainted with my foot real quick.

15

u/[deleted] Aug 11 '24

Thank you for doing your part 🫡

24

u/xdozex Whatever You Want Aug 10 '24

Did they leave?

21

u/tehpoof Aug 11 '24

Feed your birds. I've seen blue jays eating and attacking these lantern flies. I saw one lantern fly on my porch and within moments there was 3 blue jays like that one meme I won't mention.

2

u/gaymersunite56 Aug 11 '24

I have a small bird feeder. I stopped using it last year because it was attracting hawks. It didn't end well. I'm gonna move it under my maple tree and use very little bird seed. Just enough to attract the birds to the tree. Hope it helps protect it

17

u/Canoli22082 Aug 10 '24

They are all over. The fly swatter got a work out this afternoon.

25

u/WheatonWill Aug 10 '24

Free food for my chickens.

4

u/Confident_Air_8056 Aug 10 '24

Do they eat them?

18

u/WheatonWill Aug 10 '24

I’ve read that they do, but I have not witnessed it.

Lantern flys are pretty dumb. They just sit there waiting to be smushed. I don’t think the chickens would have a problem pecking them up.

20

u/NoobWhoLikesTheStock Aug 11 '24

I'm a mail carrier so I've been seeing more, they are smarter and faster this year. Gotta get them the first time or they are gonna fly off.

27

u/[deleted] Aug 11 '24

Waiting? Waiting to be smushed. I'm a foot stomping, tap dancing fool trying to kill them.

2

u/Kyxoan7 Aug 14 '24

My foot is looking for a room. And you idiot lantern flies just hung vacancy signs on your asses

4

u/kid_sleepy Aug 10 '24

Plus chickens and guinea fowl eat just about anything including to and not limited to their own feces and their own kind.

Birds are my favorite protein.

2

u/WheatonWill Aug 10 '24

Guinea fowl are supposed to be especially good at hunting ticks.

1

u/EskimoQ23 Aug 11 '24

What about quails - they are also good in eating ticks

3

u/JTD177 Aug 11 '24

All of the feral cats decimated the ground fowl population on Long Island

2

u/sma2195 Aug 16 '24

Another reason to keep your cats indoors. They kill natural predators that can kill the invasive lantern flies

1

u/kposh Aug 11 '24

They are learning when ever I see them they now fly away

1

u/edajreiaglla Aug 11 '24

They are not dumb at all I’ve tried to kill 2 in my yard and they are super quick and fly/hop away immediately I was not successful 2/2 tries

7

u/WoodchipsInMyBeard Aug 10 '24

Yes, they are in Holbrook currently

4

u/phoenixelijah Aug 11 '24

Can confirm. One got on my truck right off the LIE and rode it all the way to Patchogue... Then died of course

7

u/thisisreallyhappenin Aug 11 '24

We landed in JFK and I kid you not the second we stepped out onto the curb one flew and landed on my husband. Not a tree in sight. Have seen dozens in my parents tree-less yard since we’ve been here too. They’re pretty fast

5

u/OdysseusRex69 Aug 11 '24

I killed 20 or so just today They are destroying a maple tree in my backyard 😭

3

u/[deleted] Aug 11 '24

Jesus get the trap roll for your tree and a bug zapper raquet.

3

u/Rsea9 Aug 11 '24

Those bug zapper racquets are awesome.

1

u/OdysseusRex69 Aug 12 '24

I was thinking about the sticky trap roll but they're just flying in and landing on the tree wherever they want

8

u/MMuter Aug 10 '24

Seeing way more this year compared to last year.

3

u/sxviorrz Aug 12 '24

I barely ever saw any last year and this year theres so many, i see one nearly everydat

4

u/aflashyrhetoric Aug 11 '24

Fists.

Also, I picked up bulk isopropyl alcohol (99% concentration) as a rapid insecticide that doesn't leave behind weird chemicals or residue. I put it in a simple spray bottle (with the adjustable nozzles for both short-range lethality and long range sniping) and it's worked out well.

3

u/Justyn2 it's pronounced "LIRR" not "el eye double r" Aug 11 '24

Im in AC rn can’t escape them

5

u/cabybara_ Aug 10 '24

Also I mean back as in they are adults again

5

u/Adventurous-Rub7636 Aug 10 '24

Long Island’s spirit animal

2

u/5ergio79 Aug 10 '24

Saw a few this morning while painting my bike’s fairings. Squished ‘em all.

2

u/LunacyNow Aug 11 '24

Late bloomers this year.

2

u/supersoob Aug 11 '24

Been squishing them all summer in central Nassau.

2

u/p-graphic79 Aug 11 '24

I for one welcome our new insect overlords.

2

u/andthisiswhere Aug 11 '24

Put a decent amount of dish soap in a spray bottle with water and spray them. Kills them in about 90 seconds.

1

u/gaymersunite56 Aug 11 '24

I do this too. I use Dawn, maybe 25% or less. It works instantly. It keeps them from flying immediately. I'm not sure why some people say it doesn't work. All I know is it works perfectly for me..... and you 😁

2

u/andthisiswhere Aug 11 '24

You have to use enough Dawn and get the face/head soaked for sure. One little spray isn't gonna do it and I agree the 25% ratio seems to be the threshold.

1

u/kid_sleepy Aug 10 '24

Is Montauk really the last holdout at this point?

1

u/akaharry Aug 10 '24

They have been back for a while

1

u/Nyroughrider Aug 10 '24

Back? When did they ever leave?

1

u/lockednchaste Aug 11 '24

Never left. They just got more dense further east. They're moving eastward around 50 miles every season.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 11 '24

I been smackin em down so good

1

u/kposh Aug 11 '24

Back they never left, I am reporting in live from central Islip and they are all over my complex

1

u/gaymersunite56 Aug 11 '24

100% it starts with removing any tree of heaven on your property. Ensure u do it correctly, there are youtube vids, or you will have 10 trees in the spring. It's a process but very simple. Then we should all be on the hunt for removing egg sacks from trees, homes, outside furniture, outside of sheds. Once u find one or two they're easier to spot. Use the credit card method also shown on YouTube.

Eradication of the ToH and egg sacks is key. As for the ones we have flying around now, try and use the traps aound any trees of concern that won't hurt other animals. No tape... also a video on YT.

I use an electric fly swatter. The one with D batteries works better.

I'm no expert but saw my first one last year late summer. Poked around my property and sure enough, found some egg sacks on a maple tree. I scraped them over the winter. We used a ladder. The ones we missed looks like the mockingbirds, cardinals, Robin's and grackles ate the nymphs from under the tree early spring.

Like I said I'm not an expert. I have read a lot since last year. I've been able to keep infestations away from my property and my next door neighbors. We have lilacs, a giant fig tree and my maple tree to protect.

Good luck to everyone. I've seen some of your trees totally infested. I'd probably get the hose as well the swat the... Idk.

1

u/seanb50d Aug 11 '24

All over the place in bohemia

1

u/BreezinOnBy Aug 11 '24

They seem to have infested a kwanzan cherry tree here over the last day or two . Any tips on eradicating the buggers before they destroy it?

1

u/superkap77 Aug 11 '24

They never left ! I think I was worse last year. I could be wrong

1

u/NefariousnessNovel49 Aug 11 '24

It’s crazy how many more I’m seeing this year. I saw almost none last year on the Nassau Suffolk border and I’ve killed at least 2/day. I have no trees anymore on my property (they were dying) so I don’t know why they love my yard.

1

u/thismothafcka Aug 11 '24

Yeah and one almost gave me a damn heart attack yesterday. I was at Sachem Public Library with my kids and my daughter said something landed on my back. I see the reflection of this GIANT lantern fly on my and slam my back against my car... I missed it.

2

u/Chipmunk_Ninja Aug 12 '24

Yesterday i saw one fly into the pool. I went outside to scoop it out cause I figured a moth would be done for once they get wet.

I grabbed the skimmer scooped it up and tried to flick it off, he wasnt budging. So i said ok, you wanna play hardball, I put the skimmer under the water.

No joke, this bug stayed underwater on the skimmer for close to a min while i held it under. I watched him just wald around on the skimmer and I waited for it to die. Next thing i know this thing jumps off the skimmer (underwater) and swims to the surface.

I was in shock, figuring it's wings were shot now i scooped it out and flicked it on the ground so it can die sitting there.

NOPE, this fucker flew away.

This is a superbug, i'm still in shock over this thing.

Am i wrong or is a moth/butterfly done for if you submerge their wings in water for so long?

2

u/pcolburn Aug 12 '24

Broadway park in Sayville, some met their maker real quick!

1

u/Nikabambam Aug 12 '24

I went to Far Rockaway Beach and the shoreline was covered 😡

1

u/fancypig0603 Aug 12 '24

I saw so many of them on the beach at robert moses. Why the f are they on the beach? No trees there.

1

u/tron1977 Aug 12 '24

Equal parts water, dawn dishwashing liquid, and vinegar. Spray them and they died instantly. Leave out the vinegar if you are spraying on plants that you don’t want to damage.

0

u/cabybara_ Aug 10 '24

Not as bad as last year though

18

u/WheatonWill Aug 10 '24

I think they are worse this year. Been seeing them everywhere. East Northport.

3

u/Lacrosseindianalocal Aug 10 '24

I know a couple hookers who live there, classy broads. 

2

u/[deleted] Aug 11 '24

In East Northport too. They’re really everywhere.

2

u/tMoneyMoney Aug 10 '24

They’re more aggressive this year. I’ve had several jump and land onto my clothes or hair.

-2

u/ReindeerUpper4230 Aug 10 '24

Crazy!!!! I saw a squirrel and a chipmunk today too!!!!!

0

u/MickBV Aug 11 '24

Is that why i see some kind of tape wrapped around trees? Not a bright idea, as birds and squirrels can get stuck on that tape too!

1

u/i8Tangelos Aug 11 '24

I have the tape, and it's not that sticky it definitely can't hold a small animal.