Researcher targets invasive tree of heaven and the pest that depends on it
As the invasive spotted lanternfly continues to spread through Virginia, one Virginia Tech scientist says fighting the insect’s favorite tree may be the key to slowing the growth of both. Carrie Fearer, an assistant professor of forest pathology in the College of Natural Resources and Environment, is testing a naturally occurring fungus that attacks the ailanthus altissima, best known as the tree of heaven. The tree is an aggressive invader that also provides the perfect home for the spotted lanternfly.
What makes the tree of heaven such a problem?
“Tree of heaven was brought here in the 1700s as an ornamental, and it’s taken over roadsides, forests, and fields. It grows fast, releases chemicals that harm native plants, and now it’s helping the spotted lanternfly spread. It’s a double invasion.”
How can nature help control it?
“We’re studying a native fungus, Verticillium nonalfalfae, that infects and kills tree of heaven. It’s a biological control. Instead of cutting or spraying, we use a pathogen already found in our forests to weaken and kill this invasive tree.”
Why would removing this invasive plant help control spotted lanternflies?
“Spotted lanternflies primarily depend on tree of heaven to survive and reproduce. If you remove the tree, you remove their main food source. That directly reduces their numbers and their ability to spread to crops and vineyards.”
What happens when lanternflies can’t feed on their favorite tree?
“They can live on other trees like walnut or maple, but they don’t do as well. Without tree of heaven, they lose fitness. They grow slower, reproduce less, and become easier targets for predators. They even lose some of the chemicals that make them toxic to birds.”
Is the biocontrol method cost-effective?
“Yes. Managing tree of heaven with a biological control would be more cost-effective than repeated pesticide treatments for spotted lanternflies. Removing tree of heaven makes a field less attractive to spotted lanternfly, so spotted lanternfly populations will be lower and growers will end up using less insecticide and protecting more crops in the long run.”
What can landowners and residents do right now?
“Start by learning to identify tree of heaven and remove it where you can. If you see wilted or dying trees with these symptoms naturally, that could be the fungus at work. And if you spot the lanternfly, report it. Every removal helps.”
About Fearer
Carrie Fearer is an assistant professor of forest pathology with the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation in the College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech. Her research coverages a broad range of topics related to forest health, including forest pathology, early disease detection, and the roles of microbes in tree health. She is particularly interested in developing rapid, non-destructive methods to identify tree diseases prior to spread and disease-resistant trees in order to protect forest biodiversity and assist in ecosystem restoration applications.
Interview
To schedule an interview, contact Margaret Ashburn in the media relations office at mkashburn@vt.edu or 540-529-0814
