News12 New York
N12 Originals
Numbers & Links
Local
Crime
Weather
Taxing Long Island
Vote 2026: Long Island elections
59°
Local
Crime
Weather
Taxing Long Island
Vote 2026: Long Island elections

Spotted lanternfly problem persists on LI

Some residents have spent thousands fighting the pests, while experts say lanternfly populations will decline over time.

Kurt Semder

Aug 16, 2024, 5:31 PM

Updated

Share:

More Stories

There are more spotted lanternflies on Long Island than last year, experts say. The pests, which pose a threat to certain types of trees, have been popping up in abundance lately.

Meredith Radisch, from Old Bethpage, says the tree on her front yard has an infestation of lanternflies. She's had to spend thousands of dollars between tree trimming and an exterminator already, and the problem hasn't gone away.

Experts tell News 12 the population has started to decline in places like Staten Island, where the lanternflies were first seen in New York state last year.

The state is asking anyone who spots an infestation to email them with photos and the location at spottedlanternfly@agriculture.ny.gov.

More From News12

App StoreGoogle Play Store

info

Newsletter

Send Photos/Videos

Contact

About Us

News Team

News 12 New York

follow us

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

more resources

Optimum Corporate

Optimum Service

Advertise on News 12

Careers

Content Removal Policy

© 2026 N12N, LLC

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Ad Choices