How does one spot a mass of spotted lanternfly eggs?

“They are [a] sort of white-ish grey, a little bit tan, like splotches of putty,” Abigail Natelson, public programs coordinator at Randall’s Island Park Alliance, said. 

The Randall’s Island Park Alliance is holding a spotted lanternfly egg hunt on Saturday, an effort to stay ahead of the game of stopping the invasive species from spreading. The bugs were first discovered in the five boroughs in the summer of 2020.

What You Need To Know

  • The Randall's Island Park Alliance is holding a spotted lanternfly egg hunt on Saturday, April 13 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

  • The spotted lanternfly is an invasive species, first spotted in New York City in the summer of 2020

  • The bugs present a danger to trees, plants and crops in the region

  • Scientists have recommended that folks kill the insects to stop them from multiplying

Once the eggs are discovered, they are to be squashed and scraped off of the trees and placed into baggies. Why the harsh treatment? The insect is a danger to trees, plants and crops and has no natural predators around these parts. According to scientists, it’s best to get them early before they hatch in May.

“It is recommend to sort of find them when they are in the egg phase for that exact reason, because it’s sort of little bit more, you can address more at once, rather than chasing them around when they are flying,” Natelson said.

The event on Saturday is also meant to educate the public about the creatures. Visitors will be able to try some spotted lanternfly honeydew, which is the byproduct from the pests after they suck the sap from trees.

In order to encourage participation, Bronx Brewery has offered a free pint of its beer for folks over age 21 who join up for the squashing. There are non-alcoholic bonuses available too.

For more information, visit randallsisland.org.