How Much Does Spotted Lanternfly Treatment Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $200 - $600
Spotted lanternfly treatment costs $300 on average, or between $200 and $600, depending on the number of trees and the type of treatment.
Spotted lanternfly treatment costs $300 on average, with prices ranging from $200 to $600. Despite the pretty polka dots, the spotted lanternfly isn’t enjoyable to have around your home. Luckily, if you’re dealing with these invasive insects, a bug control specialist can help.
The spotted lanternfly's impact goes beyond the sticky "honeydew" they excrete while feeding on tree sap. They can cause severe damage to trees, plants, and the ecosystem, devastating important agricultural regions such as vineyards and apple orchards. If you're feeling overwhelmed by these pests and are considering seeking professional help, this guide can help you plan your budget.
- Average
- $300
- Low end
- $150
- high end
- $1,000
Spotted Lanternfly Treatment Cost Factors
These are the main factors that can impact the cost of spotted lanternfly treatment.
Type of Treatment
| Treatment Type | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Systemic Pesticides | $250–$1,000 |
| Spray Insecticides | $150–$300 |
The most common treatment for spotted lanternflies is systemic pesticides, which typically cost $250 to $1,000 or more. These chemicals are injected and travel internally throughout a tree, poisoning the sap and killing the insects as they feed. Different brands and types of pesticides have varying costs, so your budget is based on which one your bug control specialist uses.
Another option is spray insecticides, which cost significantly less, ranging from $150 to $300 per treatment. While this option is more budget-friendly, the insecticides are only a topical solution that will kill lanternflies on contact. Systemic pesticides, which continuously poison and kill new lanternflies, are a more effective and permanent solution.
Number of Trees
The number of affected trees on your property can significantly impact your spotted lanternfly treatment cost. Your pest control specialist may charge a flat rate for a certain number of trees, or they may charge per tree. Note the size and number of trees on your property to get accurate price quotes while you’re shopping around.
Number of Treatments
Treating your trees against spotted lanternflies typically costs anywhere from $200 to $600 per treatment. Here’s what your overall cost could look like for multiple treatments.
| Number of Treatments | Average Total Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | $200–$600 |
| 2 | $400–$1,200 |
| 3 | $600–$1,800 |
| 4 | $800–$2,400 |
| 5 | $1,000–$3,000 |
| 6 | $1,200–$3,600 |
| 7 | $1,400–$4,200 |
| 8 | $1,600–$4,800 |
| 9 | $1,800–$5,400 |
| 10 | $2,000–$6,000 |
Spotted Lanternfly Ongoing Expenses
Here are a few ongoing expenses to consider with your spotted lanternfly treatment cost.
DIY Prevention
Conducting regular inspections of your trees will cost you nothing but time, so it’s worth adding this preventative step to your routine. Look closely at your trees and scrape off any eggs and kill any bugs you find. Be sure to contact your local insect control specialist if you suspect the spotted lanternflies are taking over again.
Ongoing Treatments
Ongoing preventative visits from a pest control service cost around $40 to $70 per month or $100 to $300 quarterly. Even if you haven’t seen the spotted insects in a while, it’s a good idea to schedule regular inspections from a bug control specialist to keep them from coming back.
DIY Spotted Lanternfly Treatment vs. Hiring a Pro
Learning how to get rid of spotted lanternflies on your own can help keep the insects at bay, but safe options for DIY-ers are limited. Systemic insecticides, which move through the vascular system of your tree, are the preferred and most effective method for killing off a spotted lanternfly infestation. However, these often contain harsh compounds that can kill the tree or potentially harm the environment if not applied properly. It’s best to leave these treatments up to a local bug control specialist to avoid any collateral damage.
If you’re not ready to hire out yet, you can find spotted lanternfly circle traps at your local hardware store for $10 to $50. These are netted funnel-shaped traps that you apply to your trees to catch lanternflies as they move up the tree to feed. Wrapping trees with sticky flypaper is another option, but this can also harm other insects and animals, so it isn’t an ideal solution. Aside from that, keep an eye out for eggs, scraping off and destroying any you see with alcohol or hand sanitizer.
Cost of Common Spotted Lanternfly Treatment Add-Ons
If you’re dealing with other unwanted insects or arachnid invaders on your property, many bug control specialists offer discounted rates for bundling multiple treatments. Here are the average costs to consider for these add-on treatments:
Cost to exterminate ants: $100–$500
Cost to exterminate spiders: $100–$300
Cost to exterminate wasps: $100–$1,300
Cost to eliminate termites: $230–$2,500
Cost to remove mosquitos: $70–$500
Cost to exterminate cockroaches: $100–$600
Cost to exterminate fleas: $150–$400
Cost to exterminate bed bugs: $350–$5,000
Tips to Reduce the Cost of Spotted Lanternfly Treatment
The cost of spotted lanternfly treatment can get steep, especially if you need to treat multiple trees. Here are a few ways to save money and help prevent the spread of spotted lanternflies:
Get at least three different quotes from reputable insect control specialists before hiring pest control services.
Always check your vehicle and belongings for spotted lanternflies to avoid spreading the invasive insects or bringing them home, especially if you’re near a heavily wooded area.
If spotted lanternflies are invading your community, reach out to your local municipality to help control the insects in your area. States like New Jersey and Pennsylvania have government-funded programs to help towns and communities survey and treat spotted lanternfly infestations.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to scientists at Penn State University, spotted lanternflies do not typically kill the trees and plants they feed on, but they can cause branches and segments to die off. However, they have been found to kill cultivated grapes, which can have devastating consequences for vineyard owners and regions that heavily rely on vineyards to create jobs and generate revenue. They have also killed the Ailanthu altissima, known as the tree of heaven, though this is classified as a noxious and invasive weed tree.
Yes, if you see a spotted lanternfly in a municipality where it is not already known to exist, you should report it to your local agricultural department or extension office. Kill the insect immediately by crushing them or stepping on them. If you see any egg masses, scrape them into a sealable plastic baggie or container and cover them with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer to kill them.
Not likely. While the occasional spotted lanternfly insect may find its way in, it’s highly unlikely that spotted lanternflies will lay eggs and eventually infest your home because they prefer to live outdoors. If you’re concerned about the bugs getting inside, be sure to examine all humans, objects, and pets before bringing them indoors.
While the spotted lanternfly’s favorite place to stay is the trees and plants they gorge on, they can occasionally congregate in large numbers on buildings and other structures. This may be for height, warmth, or other unknown reasons. However, rest assured that the insects do not do any structural damage to the buildings, and will likely move on within a few weeks or perish with the colder weather.
No, the spotted lanternfly does not sting, bite, or otherwise do anything painful or damaging to humans or animals. Do not hesitate to approach and kill the insects and any eggs you find on sight—you’ll be playing an important role in slowing the spread of these invasive and destructive pests. If you’re not sure if the insect is a spotted lanternfly, snap a picture and contact your local extension office for help identifying it.
To help protect local ecosystems, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service urges citizens to educate themselves on how to identify and kill spotted lanternflies, including adults, immatures, and their eggs. It’s also crucial to check vehicles and belongings for the insects before traveling to avoid spreading them to new areas. Lastly, become familiar with your state’s reporting tools, take pictures if possible, and include the location where the picture was taken.