Fairfax County is facing an invasion from a dangerous pest and the tree it likes to call home, so it’s time for everyone to be on the lookout for the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) and the invasive Ailanthus altissima, also known as tree of heaven.

Spotted lanternflies have an intriguing look but can cause serious damage to trees, vines, crops and other plants. They excrete a sugary substance, called honeydew, which attracts wasps and ants and can coat decks and play equipment. If you spot one of these spotted pests, the Park Authority encourages you to dispose of the insect and use the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS) mobile app to report its location. Learn more at about the spotted lanternfly at the Public Works and Environmental Services website.

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive pest that recently spread to Clarke and Warren Counties, according to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). Spotted lanternfly is potentially a very serious pest of grapes, peaches, hops and a variety of other crops. The insect has been reported on a range of ornamentals around homes and in the landscape; in high numbers, the insect can become a nuisance pest to residents.

Between December 2021 and February 2022, a Fairfax County Park Authority contractor will be at Blake Lane Park in Oakton to remove Ailanthus trees, which are heavenly to the spotted lanternfly. These tree of heaven removal efforts will continue at different times in the following years. Tree removal has also began at Laurel Hill Park in Lorton. The Department of Public Works and Environmental Service’s Urban Forestry Management Division is working in partnership with the Park Authority on the Ailanthus removal.

Fairfax County urban foresters and natural resource managers are managing the tree of heaven to control the spread and invasion of spotted lanternflies. You can use the EDDMapS app to report the location of these pest-harboring trees, too. For more info on Ailanthus and the EDDMapS app, download the county’s Tree of Heaven brochure.

For more information about invasives in Fairfax County parks, contact Ecologist and Invasive Management Area Program Manager Patricia Greenberg at patricia.greenberg@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Source:  Fairfax County Park Authority news release