Hi there,
I was wondering if anyone had knowledge about purple martins being a predator for the invasive spotted lanternfly? I am setting up my first house and would love to help with any research if possible.
Purple Martins for Spotted Lanternfly Control
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3795
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
I couldn't find much on the pages I read about the flight characteristics of the lanternfly. If they fly at an elevated altitude during the day I would guess the martins would eat them or grab them to feed to their young. If they stay close to the ground or just buzz from tree to tree the martins likely won't eat them. Martins fly during the day at higher altitudes.
This is another reason martins don't eat a lot of mosquitos. By the time the mosquitos come out at night the martins are usually in for the night.
This is another reason martins don't eat a lot of mosquitos. By the time the mosquitos come out at night the martins are usually in for the night.
2026 HOSP 29
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
Thanks so much for that information. I do believe you're right that the are hoppers and don't really fly high. I have heard that martins can be trained to eat food provided to them, so if they get a taste of them, and they see some down below, they can easily get a nice juicy snack! I'm completely new to martins and figured it couldn't hurt!
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Whippy
- Posts: 1023
- Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 11:15 pm
- Location: Plano, Texas
- Martin Colony History: See Signature
So I looked up spotted lantern fly:
The Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive species native to China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. In 2014 it was found in Pennsylvania, and has since spread to multiple counties which are now quarantined.
If you see a spotted lanternfly, it's imperative to immediately report it online or via phone by calling 1-888-4BADFLY. Especially if you are not inside the quarantine zone.
What else? Kill it! Squash it, smash it...just get rid of it. In the fall, these bugs will lay egg masses with 30-50 eggs each. These are called bad bugs for a reason, don't let them take over your county next.
Often mistaken for ticks (as babies) or moths (as adults), the spotted lanternfly is neither. Instead, it is known as a “hopper” and grows its wings only in the adult stage.
With eggs laid from September to mid-November, the insects hatch in early spring. Their coating is black, with white polka dots, and as they grow, they split along their back and crawl out into a new life stage.
In mid-summer, they turn red (still with white polka dots), and by August, most have morphed into their winged adult stage.
But “they’re fast little suckers,” as Kunkel puts it. With eyes on the sides of their heads, they are quick to evade a fatal stomp.
Killing them is no easy feat.
Not trying to be funny here but you may need more than Martins for these bad bugs.
As Flyin-Lowe said, Martins obviously feed on the wing so if these pests are flying about at the same time as Martins, they may pick a few of them off. Having looked at the photos it appears these pests hang out on trees all day and will swarm above the trees perhaps in their adult stage. Also. These bugs being native of China, Bangladesh and Vietnam, and the fact they are such a threat to PA, tells me they don't experience much natural predation and therefore are multiplying without much competition. They may posses a chemical or toxin that our native insectivores do not like. Tantamount to the fire ants we have down south that came from Africa. They have no natural enemies here in the US and have become a huge problem as a result.
Coolwhips
The Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive species native to China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. In 2014 it was found in Pennsylvania, and has since spread to multiple counties which are now quarantined.
If you see a spotted lanternfly, it's imperative to immediately report it online or via phone by calling 1-888-4BADFLY. Especially if you are not inside the quarantine zone.
What else? Kill it! Squash it, smash it...just get rid of it. In the fall, these bugs will lay egg masses with 30-50 eggs each. These are called bad bugs for a reason, don't let them take over your county next.
Often mistaken for ticks (as babies) or moths (as adults), the spotted lanternfly is neither. Instead, it is known as a “hopper” and grows its wings only in the adult stage.
With eggs laid from September to mid-November, the insects hatch in early spring. Their coating is black, with white polka dots, and as they grow, they split along their back and crawl out into a new life stage.
In mid-summer, they turn red (still with white polka dots), and by August, most have morphed into their winged adult stage.
But “they’re fast little suckers,” as Kunkel puts it. With eyes on the sides of their heads, they are quick to evade a fatal stomp.
Killing them is no easy feat.
Not trying to be funny here but you may need more than Martins for these bad bugs.
As Flyin-Lowe said, Martins obviously feed on the wing so if these pests are flying about at the same time as Martins, they may pick a few of them off. Having looked at the photos it appears these pests hang out on trees all day and will swarm above the trees perhaps in their adult stage. Also. These bugs being native of China, Bangladesh and Vietnam, and the fact they are such a threat to PA, tells me they don't experience much natural predation and therefore are multiplying without much competition. They may posses a chemical or toxin that our native insectivores do not like. Tantamount to the fire ants we have down south that came from Africa. They have no natural enemies here in the US and have become a huge problem as a result.
Coolwhips
2016 - many visitors
2017 - 1 pair, 3 fledged
2018- 2 pair, 12 fledged
2019 - 4 pair, 21 fledged
2020 - 15 pair, 67 fledged
2021 - 29 pair, 117 fledged
2022 - 35 pair, 130 fledged
2023 - 43 pair, 196 fledged
2017 - 1 pair, 3 fledged
2018- 2 pair, 12 fledged
2019 - 4 pair, 21 fledged
2020 - 15 pair, 67 fledged
2021 - 29 pair, 117 fledged
2022 - 35 pair, 130 fledged
2023 - 43 pair, 196 fledged