Recent evidence indicates that birds are natural predators of spotted lanternflies. (Some other insects are too.)  Supporting birds in your landscape can have a meaningful impact on lanternfly populations.

The best way to create a bird-friendly garden is to provide birds with what they need: shelter, food, water and places to nest.

• Shelter: Birds need shelter to protect them from predators and the elements. In the winter, they need protection from snow, and during the year they seek refuge from heavy rain, wind, and predators.
• Food: Plants supply birds with a large part of their diet, from seeds and fruits to providing a home for the common insects that many birds feed on.
• Water: Birds need water for drinking and bathing. Smaller birds tend to bathe in 1/2 inches of water, while larger birds prefer a 2-inch depth. You can build a small garden pond, buy a birdbath from a garden center, or place a large, shallow dish of water in your garden.
• Nesting Sites: Birds have different requirements for nesting sites. Some birds like to build their nests in evergreens (such as pine or spruce), while others prefer deciduous trees (such as oak, birch, apple and ash) where they can make their homes either in the intersections of large branches or in cavities in tree trunks. Shrubs that are not too dense or thinly branched often make good homes for bird nests. Plants such as rhododendrons and viburnums do not have the three-way forks in their branch structure that can support a nest. While these shrubs offer important shelter and food for birds, they do not provide a suitable nesting site.

To enhance the impact of birds on spotted lanternflies, remove tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) plants in your yard. Tree-of-heaven is a favored nesting site for lanternflies and ingesting the leaves makes spotted lanternflies taste bitter, reducing bird interest.

You can read more about this discovery in Birds Are One Line of Defense Against Dreaded Spotted Lanternflies | Audubon.

Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information Service