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Street Trees

Per Hoboken City Code, property owners are responsible for caring for street trees and tree pits in front of their property, as well as all vegetation on their private property. Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) have been increasing in prevalence in Hudson County.

Spotted Lanternfly feed on the plant sap of many different plants including grapevines, maples, black walnut, and other important plants in NJ. As the Spotted Lanternfly feeds, it excretes honeydew (a sugary substance) which can attract bees, wasps, and other insects. The honeydew also builds up and promotes the growth for sooty mold (fungi),which can cover the plant, and eventually kill the plant. Although not directly harmful to animals and humans, the insect can greatly impact agricultural crops and hardwood trees.

The Spotted Lanternfly lays eggs on the bark of certain trees, most commonly the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), or any flat surface such as rocks, lawn furniture, firewood, boats, pallets or anything left outdoors, some of which can be transported to new locations. Adult egg laying starts in September through December and egg masses contain 30-50 eggs. It is important to Stomp Out the adult Spotted Lanternfly (pictured above) to prevent them from egg masses.

Below are some suggestions to manage Spotted Lanternfly:

‍Strategy 1: Stomp It Out!

If you see a Spotted Lanternfly, help us carefully stomp it out! 

‍Strategy 2: Report a Siting

Report the siting of a Spotted Lanternfly to the City of Hoboken and to NJ Department of Agriculture, using the reporting tool or call 833-4BADBUG (833-422-3284).

‍Strategy 3: Contact an Expert

Consult a New Jersey licensed tree care expert who can inspect the issue and recommend solutions.

City Parks

Spotted lanternfly have been seen throughout Hudson County and Hoboken has seen massing of adult Spotted Lanternfly in certain parks.

The City is working with a certified arborist and NJ Licensed Tree Expert from Almstead Tree, Shrub & Lawn Care on an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach for managing the Spotted Lanternfly in City parks. Almstead is currently conducting site surveys of all City-owned parks for massing of Spotted Lanternfly.

• Any current massing of Spotted Lanternfly will be spot treated with a spray application directly on the insects of PyGanic, an organic insecticide. PyGanic is an organically approved, broad-spectrum contact insecticide derived from Chrysanthemum flowers.
• All trees adjacent to those with massing of Spotted Lanternfly as well as all tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), where the Spotted Lanterfly typically feed and lay eggs, will receive a preventive application to the trunk of Zylam Liquid insecticide. This application will have a 30-day control and treated trees will be monitored for any necessary additional treatment.
• Any egg masses will be carefully removed by scraping the bark.

All individual treated trees will be flagged with standard 72-hour no entry flags to inform the public. Please do not touch flagged trees.

All insecticide applications will be as limited as possible taking an IPM approach (rather than broad spraying) and performed by a NJ Licensed Commercial Pesticide Applicator.