Spotted lanternfly is a relatively new threat to vegetation in Pennsylvania and the U.S. One of the things you can do to help combat this pest is to identify and destroy egg masses.

Freshly laid egg masses are about 1 inch long and 3/4 of an inch wide and may be found on hard surfaces, such as tree trunks, outdoor furniture, patios, vehicles, stones, etc.

The egg masses are covered in a gray/brown, mudlike substance that ages over time to look like cracked mud.

Newly laid eggs may look shiny and like they may have a waxy coating.

Older egg masses may lose their covering and appear as four to seven columns of seed-like eggs with 30-50 eggs in total.

Eggs are usually found from September through May.

To remove egg masses, put some alcohol or hand sanitizer in a zippered plastic bag. Using the straight edge of an old plastic card, hold the bag open beneath the egg mass and scrape it into the bag, then seal.

The alcohol will kill the eggs.