ExploreInsects

Spotted Lanternfly

Lycorma delicatula

The Spotted Lanternfly is a colorful insect with beautiful spots. It can be found on trees and plants, and it loves to suck the sap from them, which can make the plants unhealthy.

Habitat: Urban areas, forests

Appearance

The Spotted Lanternfly has unique grey forewings covered in small black spots, contrasting sharply with its vibrant red hindwings that feature black and white stripes. Its distinct pattern and bright colours make it easily recognizable from other planthoppers.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHemipteraFamilyFulgoridaeGenusLycorma
Spotted Lanternfly
spotted trait badgesolitary trait badgecolorful trait badgeherbivorous trait badge
Spotted Lanternfly

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Wow! Baby lanternflies are black with white spots and turn bright red later!

Wow! Spotted Lanternflies can ride on cars and trains to travel to new places!

Wow! Their eggs look like a smear of mud or caulk on trees and rocks!

Wow! They squirt a sweet, sticky liquid called honeydew that coats plants!

Special abilities

Ability

Warning Flash

Spotted Lanternfly can reveal bright red hindwings to startled predators because of its unique wing pattern that helps them deter attacks.

Ability

Sticky Secretion

Spotted Lanternfly has specialized glands that produce honeydew because of its sap-based diet that helps them excrete excess sugar.

Ability

Super Jumper

Spotted Lanternfly can leap surprisingly far because of its powerful legs that help them quickly escape danger or find new feeding spots.

Ability

Master Mimicry

Spotted Lanternfly has forewings that blend with tree bark because of its mottled grey colouration that helps them hide from predators.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
40-50 mm
Size
20-30 mm
Lifespan
150-180 days
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

These insects sip sugary sap from many plants, like trees and grapevines, using a straw-like mouth.

Age differences: Nymphs feed on a wider variety of plants, moving to woody hosts as they mature.

Primary Foods

  • Ailanthus altissima
  • Vitis vinifera
  • Acer saccharum
  • Betula pendula

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

eats

Tree of Heaven

Ailanthus altissima

Its primary host plant and preferred food source.

eats

Common Grape Vine

Vitis vinifera

Causes significant damage to vineyards and grape crops.

parasitizes

Oriental Wasp

Anastatus orientalis

A tiny wasp that lays its eggs inside lanternfly eggs.

depends on

Sooty Mold

Fumago vagans

This fungus grows on the sticky honeydew excreted by lanternflies.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Don't touch or pick up insects without asking an adult first.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Spotted Lanternfly's wingspan?

40-50 mm

How big is Spotted Lanternfly?

20-30 mm

How long does Spotted Lanternfly live?

150-180 days

What does Spotted Lanternfly eat?

These insects sip sugary sap from many plants, like trees and grapevines, using a straw-like mouth.

Where is Spotted Lanternfly usually found?

Urban areas, forests

How does Spotted Lanternfly hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Spotted Lanternfly have?

6

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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