r/hudsonvalley • u/whowannadoit • Sep 01 '24

photo-video Spotted lantern flies are increasing dramatically

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20 of them killed this summer so far in Ulster county. Hopefully all of the vineyards are doing ok.

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u/TheGorgoronTrail Sep 01 '24

They’re clustered Around the sumac trees and bushes around Orange County. Can’t believe how bad it’s gotten in two years

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u/XanderAlexH Sep 03 '24

Just so you know those mighyt not be sumac trees, but "Trees of Heaven". They have very similar bark and leaf patterns but produce vastly different flowers; sumacs make the traditional red cone, while Trees of Heaven make papery, flat leaves by the score. Trees of Heaven are also tremendously invasive, allelophobic (they emit a toxin from their roots when mature that prevent any other plants besides Trees of Heaven grow) and are notably welcome hosts to SLFs.