This fall, many New Jersey residents have walked through masses of spotted lanternflies — those pesky insects that littered many sidewalks and covered many trees during the warmer weather. And residents are surely aware of the state’s campaign to “Stomp it Out” when it comes to this invasive species. That campaign was aimed at exterminating adults of the species in late summer. As the weather gets colder, the focus is now on destroying the egg masses — which can survive winter weather and hatch in the spring.

The state Department of Agriculture is calling for residents to scrape off any egg masses they see on tree trunks, park benches, steps or other outdoor surfaces. Since October 2021, department staff with the help of their federal counterparts have scraped away 340,000 egg masses; that’s tens of millions of eggs prevented from hatching since each mass holds 30 to 50 eggs.

Spotted lanternflies feed on vegetation, disrupting natural resources and altering ecosystems. So, the next time you see a sooty-looking egg mass on a tree or sidewalk, remember to scrape it off. Not alone that, a press release from the state DOA ruthlessly advises, “The egg masses can be scraped with a credit card (or something similar). It is important to press against the egg mass and hear the eggs popping as they are being scraped. The popping sound signifies the eggs are being destroyed.” If you’d prefer, “Scraping cards are available at the Rutgers Extension office in each county.”