Q: Why is my house covered in lanternflies?

• <div><p>While the spotted lanternfly&rsquo;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.</p></div>

Question 1

Why is my house covered in lanternflies?

Accepted Answer

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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.

Question 2

Do these spiders resemble brown recluse spiders?

Accepted Answer

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Yes, both hobo and wolf spiders resemble brown recluse spiders, both in habitat and physical appearance. However, these species lack the tell-tale violin-shaped markings under the head that classify a brown recluse. Both species also have shorter legs than the dreaded brown recluse.

Question 3

What do fleas hate the most?

Accepted Answer

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In addition to a clean home, fleas dislike oils made from plants that are naturally bug-resistant or poisonous to bugs. That includes myrtle, mint, eucalyptus, and especially cedar oil. Common household remedies like baking soda, garlic and apple vinegar don’t have any effect on fleas. Don’t spray essential oils directly on your own skin or your pets (and their bedding, because it can be a skin irritant. Stay away from tea tree oil. In pure form it can be very toxic to pets. Always ask your vet if you have any questions.

Question 4

Should I hire an animal removal specialist instead of calling my local municipality?

Accepted Answer

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You might be tempted to call your local municipality to remove animals from your property, such as a groundhog burrowing in your yard or raccoons getting into your trash cans. However, they typically only remove domestic animals like dogs and cats from properties, or sick and injured wildlife that pose a public safety risk or health threat, such as a rabid animal. They typically do not capture or remove healthy wildlife.

Animal removal professionals have the tools, knowledge, and skills to trap and remove wild animals adequately and humanely. They also can relocate them correctly.

Question 5

Can vinegar kill bamboo?

Accepted Answer

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No, vinegar cannot kill bamboo. Common household chemicals like vinegar and even bleach are unlikely to kill bamboo, and they may only have minimal effect on bamboo roots. Since they can alter the chemical composition of nearby soil, we suggest avoiding these methods. Bamboo is very tough and not even all herbicides work well against it. To beat back bamboo, find an herbicide that’s specifically designed to work against tough grasses.