I saw something odd on a tree in my garden today. This wasn’t there a few days ago, as I vividly recall.When I went over to have a better look, I saw that they were moving—slowly, barely perceptibly, but unquestionably.

When I looked up information online, I was shocked by what I discovered 😱😱

I noticed something odd on a tree in my garden today. This most certainly wasn’t there a few days ago.

As I drew nearer, I was horrified to find that these gray, apparently filthy lumps were actually moving.

When I learned that this was an egg clutch of the spotted lanternfly, a hazardous invasive pest, my heart missed a beat and became even more frightful.

Numerous tree, shrub, and grapevine species can be destroyed by these pests, which consume the sap of plants. They cause wilting, weaken plants, and leave behind sticky secretions that are fertile ground for sooty mold.

Young trees perish, yields decline, and fruits are harmed as a result.

In the spring and summer, destroy the larvae and adults mechanically or with safe insecticides; if at all possible, remove the spotted lanternfly’s preferred host trees, such as the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima); and locate and remove the egg masses by scraping them into soapy water or alcohol.

The sooner you battle, the more likely it is that your garden will be saved.