The dynamic, ecosystem-destroying duo
While our native species continue trying to maintain their delicate balance, two invasive species have been lurking into our ecosystem.
Spotted lanternflies and the tree of heaven. What beautiful sounding names, eh? They sound like the most graceful insect and plant combo you’d get the pleasure of witnessing in the wild!
Yes, actually, if you love squishing bugs and mowing down trees, because these are two of the most heavily invasive species in North America! While their names are deceivingly elegant and enticing, these two species work together a bit like a supervillain duo, killing and outcompeting native plants, driving down biodiversity and shrinking our already threatened native ecosystem. So, what makes these two species so invasive, and what can we do to stop them?
Our first icky, impeding invasive is none other than the tree of heaven (but the native species here might call it something a little different). The tree of heaven was originally intentionally brought to North America from China to be a horticultural specimen and shade tree. However, because of its rapid growth and lack of natural insect or disease to limit its expansion, the tree of heaven quickly branched out and began pushing out native species.
Our other invasive enemy, the spotted lanternfly, had a very different origin story. While the tree of heaven was brought to North America intentionally, the spotted lanternfly was likely an accidental stowaway on a cargo ship coming from Asia. This pest has been a terror to fruit farmers and gardeners alike. They weaken and can kill trees and plants by latching on and sucking out sap. Interestingly, the spotted lanternfly’s favorite tree is… the tree of heaven!
While this may slow the expansion of the tree of heaven, this plant actually serves as a launchpad for spotted lanternfly populations to skyrocket. Spotted lanternflies flourish here, laying more eggs and the resulting nymphs having higher survival rates. In turn, more spotted lanternflies are in our environment, resulting in more and more strain on our already delicately balanced ecosystem.
But does this even matter? Do these “spotted lanternflies” and “trees of heaven” even impact us, at Andover? Well, unfortunately, they do. Last week, while on my way downtown, I saw two squished spotted lanternflies on the sidewalk. I was both happy and taken aback, as I hadn’t known that they had reached Andover yet. However, throughout Massachusetts and the Eastern US, spotted lanternflies have become a growing issue. They have wreaked havoc not only on our beautiful forests, but also on agriculture.
So, what can we do? For the tree of heaven, cutting down the tree may only provide a temporary reprieve, and, in doing so, could spread a lot of seeds. However, this method is still extremely effective, especially if done in the spring when there are less nutrients in the roots. The ideal prevention method is to identify tree of heaven seedlings and pull them from the ground and prevent their maturation. For spotted lanternflies, their unique behaviors and characteristics can be used against them. For instance, it may take a few tries to kill them by smacking them with your shoe because they tend to jump directly up, so placing a container, like a plastic bottle, directly over them is an effective way to catch them. However, smacking and smooshing and hitting and squishing and stomping are all very good ways to push back against this invasive foe. Finding and identifying spotted lanternfly eggs on trees, buildings, and really any flat surface and scraping them off is even better! Just remember to put those eggs in a plastic bag filled with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer to kill them completely.
So, now we have a fork in the road: do we choose to take action and prevent these two destructive invasives from expanding further, or do we let the spotted lanternflies and trees of heaven slowly and systematically destroy our already diminished and delicate native ecosystems?
References:
Harrison, T., Crick, J., & McCullough, D. (2023, October 2). A Tale of Two Invaders: Tree of Heaven and Spotted Lanternfly. Michigan State University. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/a-tale-of-two-invaders-tree-of-heaven-and-spotted-lanternfly
Spotted Lanternfly. (2025, August 26). Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-pests-diseases/slf
Sublette, B. (2024, August 2). The Spotted Lanternfly Is Here. What Should We Do? The Crozet Gazette. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from https://www.crozetgazette.com/2024/08/02/the-spotted-lanternfly-is-here-what-should-we-do/
Tree of Heaven. (2025, February 14). The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/indiana/stories-in-indiana/journey-with-nature--tree-of-heaven/
Tree-of-Heaven. (n.d.). Ontario Invasive Plant Council. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/invasive-plants/species/tree-of-heaven/
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