What the spotted lanternfly actually is
A planthopper native to Asia, first found in Berks County, PA in 2014 and now everywhere in southeast PA — including Bucks County and Northeast Philadelphia. They're about the size of a half-dollar with grey wings and bright red underwings.
They don't bite. They don't sting. They don't damage your home. But they:
1. Damage shade and fruit trees (especially Tree of Heaven, maples, walnut, grapevines) 2. Produce a sticky honeydew that coats decks, cars, and patio furniture 3. The honeydew attracts wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and ants — which is where pest control comes in
What to actually do
Kill them when you see them
PA's official guidance: stomp on adults and scrape off egg masses. You won't make a dent in the population, but you'll cut down what's in your yard.
Don't waste money on bug zappers
Lanternflies don't respond to UV light. Bug zappers will kill a lot of beneficial insects and almost no lanternflies.
Be careful with traps
The early "sticky band" traps caught lanternflies but also catch birds and beneficial insects. If you use sticky bands, install them with a wire mesh cover.
Treat the wasps and ants they bring
This is where we help. The honeydew lanternflies leave behind is a sugar bonanza for yellow jackets, paper wasps, and pavement ants. A late-summer perimeter treatment plus targeted nest removal keeps your deck usable through September.
When to call us
If you've got wasps swarming your patio, an active yellow jacket nest, or carpenter ant activity that's gotten worse since lanternflies showed up — that's our job. We're in Doylestown, Yardley, Warrington, and across the area.