Spotted Lanternfly Hits the Mountains: Caldwell County Joins the Ranks

If you’re in the Fraser fir business—or just love those fragrant Christmas trees—you’ve probably been on high alert for the spotted lanternfly (SLF) ever since it showed up in Forsyth and Guilford back in 2022. This summer, the NCDA&CS confirmed what many of us feared: a breeding population of SLF is now well established in Caldwell County, making it the second “new” county this year (Rockingham was first).

Why This Matters for Christmas Tree Growers

Caldwell County sits cheek-by-jowl with some of North Carolina’s top Fraser fir producers. While Pennsylvania’s Christmas tree growers have weathered a decade of SLF pressure without major damage to mature Fraser firs, these little jumpers are sneaky hitchhikers. They’ll lay egg masses on trucks, machinery—even the trunks of your trees—potentially tagging along on any load headed out of state.

Right now SLF isn’t a federally regulated pest, but if you farm Christmas trees in a county with an established infestation, you’re required to:

• Enter a compliance agreement with NCDA&CS before shipping to California
• Secure a Regulatory Official’s letter to accompany any California-bound shipment

Regulations can—and often do—change on short notice. The best way to stay ahead of the curve is to keep SLF from ever getting comfortable on your farm.

Your Favorite Out-of-Control Tree: Tree of Heaven

SLF loves its host plant, the invasive Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). You might have noticed this fast-growing species popping up around old fence-rows, field edges, or along stream banks. Simply cutting it down won’t stop it—it’ll just sprout right back. Instead, the NCDA&CS recommends a targeted “hack-and-squirt” herbicide application to the stump.

Here’s a quick game plan:

1. Identify: Any Tree of Heaven on your property. Its leaves are compound (think a row of 10–40 leaflets), and it can reach up to 70 feet tall.
2. Hack: Make angled cuts into the bark around the stump’s circumference.
3. Squirt: Immediately apply a trunk-injection herbicide into each cut. This delivers the chemical where the tree transports nutrients, preventing resprouts.

If you’re not sure whether you’ve got Tree of Heaven—or you’re wondering if that sapling could be black walnut or staghorn sumac—reach out to your county’s Extension Office or give us a shout. We’re always happy to help landowners nail down those ID questions.

Something to Keep in Mind as Fall Approaches

Spotted lanternfly populations ramp up in late summer and early fall. You’ll start seeing adults in August, but mating swarms peak in September—right when mountain views are at their most stunning. Not exactly the postcard moment you had in mind if your trees are buzzing with thousands of insects.

SLF also produces sticky “honeydew” that drips onto needles and the forest floor, encouraging sooty mold and drawing ants. That’s a nuisance for campsites, picnic areas, and, yes, your Christmas tree fields.

How to Stay One Step Ahead

• Survey: Walk your property monthly. SLF egg masses look like patches of gray putty. Scratch them into a bag of alcohol to kill the embryos.
• Trap: Sticky bands wrapped around trunks can catch nymphs in spring—just swap them out regularly to prevent trapping birds.
• Report: If you spot SLF in a new spot, snap a photo and submit it via the NCDA&CS reporting tool (www.ncagr.gov/SLF).

Meanwhile, NCDA&CS survey teams will continue year-round monitoring in Caldwell County, focusing treatments on high-risk areas—commercial lots, lumber yards, and farm equipment staging areas.