Quick Take
- A 14-year-old outsmarted an invasive pest using a trick the insects can't resist, and the solution has nothing to do with pesticides or sticky tape. Meet the teenage inventor →
- There's a flaw in the most common DIY lanternfly solution that could accidentally harm birds and beneficial wildlife in your yard. Avoid harming wildlife →
- Spotted lanternflies are capable of flight, so why do they keep falling for a trap that only catches them while they're climbing? See why climbing is their weakness →
- Catching 1,200 lanternflies sounds like a victory, but there's a catch that puts the whole result in a different light. Check the full catch results →
Sometimes the best solutions come from people who are simply tired of dealing with a problem. That’s exactly what happened when 14-year-old Rachel Bergey noticed spotted lanternflies taking over a tree she loved climbing near her home in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Rather than simply accepting that the invasive insects had claimed her favorite hangout, she decided to do something about it. Using everyday materials and a little creativity, she designed a homemade trap that reportedly caught an astonishing 1,200 spotted lanternflies in just two weeks. But here’s the really interesting part: the trap works by taking advantage of something these insects do naturally. So, how did a teenager figure out a way to catch so many of them?
A Teenager Takes on an Invasive Insect
In a news report originally aired by Pennsylvania’s WFMZ-TV in September 2019, Rachel Bergey demonstrated an invention that was surprisingly simple considering how effective it appeared to be. The teenager had noticed spotted lanternflies gathering on the tree she enjoyed climbing. Concerned about the insects and the potential damage they could cause, she began experimenting with ways to remove them.
Instead of relying on pesticides or covering the tree with sticky tape, Bergey developed a trap using materials including aluminum foil, plastic, and netting. The idea was to intercept lanternflies as they climbed the tree trunk and guide them into an area where they couldn’t easily escape.
According to the original WFMZ-TV report, Bergey’s two traps caught approximately 1,200 spotted lanternflies over two weeks. That’s an impressive result for something built by a teenager using relatively inexpensive materials. Her project also earned recognition in a national science competition. At the time of the report, she was preparing to compete in the Broadcom MASTERS competition in Washington, D.C.
Of course, catching that many insects on two trees doesn’t mean the surrounding infestation had been eliminated. But the invention demonstrated something particularly valuable: understanding how an animal behaves can sometimes be more useful than trying to overpower it.
Why Does This Homemade Lanternfly Trap Work?
The secret behind Bergey’s invention is a behavior that spotted lanternflies repeat throughout their lives. Although adult lanternflies can fly, these insects also spend considerable time crawling up trees. Young lanternflies, known as nymphs, cannot fly at all. When they fall or jump from a tree, they often climb back up the trunk to reach feeding areas higher in the branches.
Bergey’s trap took advantage of that climbing instinct. As the lanternflies moved upward, they encountered a barrier that directed them into a confined space. Rather than simply turning around and heading back down, the insects continued attempting to climb, becoming trapped in the process.
The concept is similar to the circle traps recommended by Penn State Extension. These devices use screening to create a funnel that guides climbing lanternflies into a collection bag or container. Unlike traditional sticky bands, properly constructed circle traps don’t require exposed adhesive that could accidentally capture birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.
The design isn’t magic, and it won’t catch every lanternfly in the area. Still, it’s a clever example of using an insect’s natural behavior against it. And considering the reported results of Bergey’s experiment, the approach certainly gave those particular lanternflies a difficult time.
Why Are Spotted Lanternflies Such a Problem?
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive planthopper that can feed on a wide variety of plants, including grapevines and maple trees.
©iStock.com/arlutz73
At first glance, the spotted lanternfly doesn’t look particularly threatening. Adults have grayish forewings covered in dark spots, with striking red, black, and white hind wings that become visible when the insect opens them. They don’t bite or sting people, and despite their intimidating reputation, they aren’t directly dangerous to humans or pets.
The problem is what they eat and how they spread. Native to parts of Asia, spotted lanternflies were first detected in the United States in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014. Since then, they have become established in numerous states, creating concerns for agricultural producers and homeowners.
These insects use specialized piercing mouthparts to feed on plant sap. Their preferred hosts include the invasive tree-of-heaven, but they also feed on grapevines, maples, walnuts, fruit trees, and other vegetation. Heavy infestations can place stress on plants, and grapevines are particularly vulnerable to significant damage.
There’s also the matter of honeydew, a sugary waste substance the insects produce while feeding. Large accumulations can coat leaves, branches, outdoor furniture, and anything else unfortunate enough to be beneath an infested tree. The sticky material encourages the growth of sooty mold, a dark fungus that can interfere with photosynthesis and create an unpleasant mess.
It’s worth keeping the threat in perspective, however. According to the University of Maryland Extension, spotted lanternflies have not been shown to kill otherwise healthy landscape trees through feeding alone. Their agricultural impact, particularly on grapes, is a much greater concern. So while these insects are certainly unwelcome visitors, finding a few on your maple tree doesn’t mean the tree is automatically doomed.
Can You Make a Lanternfly Trap at Home?
Absolutely, and you don’t necessarily need to be a teenage inventor to pull it off. Circle traps are available commercially, but they can also be constructed using materials such as window screening, plastic containers, and collection bags. Penn State Extension offers a detailed guide explaining how to build and install one safely.
The basic concept involves attaching a funnel-shaped piece of screening around a tree trunk. Lanternflies climbing upward enter the funnel and eventually reach a collection container. Because the insects naturally tend to move upward, the trap can intercept them without needing chemical attractants or exposed sticky surfaces.
There are a few important precautions. Traps generally work best on trees with relatively smooth bark, where insects cannot easily crawl beneath the screening. They should be installed without damaging the living tissue of the tree and removed at the end of the season. Collection containers also need to be checked and maintained.
Perhaps most importantly, wildlife experts discourage using unprotected sticky bands. These can accidentally trap beneficial insects, small mammals, birds, and other animals. Circle traps are generally a better option for homeowners looking for a nonchemical way to reduce lanternfly numbers.
Trapping is only one part of managing spotted lanternflies. Inspecting outdoor equipment, vehicles, and other objects for egg masses is also important because these insects can spread when people unknowingly transport them to new locations. If you discover an infestation, your local agricultural extension office can provide guidance appropriate for your area.
Watch the Teenager’s Clever Lanternfly Trap in Action
One of the most impressive things about Bergey’s invention is that it didn’t require expensive equipment or complicated technology. She identified a problem, observed the insects causing it, and developed a practical solution using materials she could obtain relatively easily. That’s a pretty impressive accomplishment for a 14-year-old.
The original 2019 news report shows how her trap works and explains the thinking behind its design. Watch the footage below to see how a teenager turned an annoying infestation into an award-winning science project, reportedly capturing 1,200 spotted lanternflies along the way.
