By Doug Fabbioli

I thought I would take this space to update you on the status of the spotted lantern fly (SLF), how they are affecting the vines and what we are doing to address them. We (Fabbioli Cellars) have been dealing with the spotted lantern fly since 2025. Many other vineyards in Loudoun County have been fighting them for 3-5 seasons.

A brief rundown on the SLF: They arrived here from China, most likely hitchhiking on wooden pallets of cargo. They have a one-year cycle meaning eggs are laid in the fall, hatch in the spring as nymphs and as the season goes on, they grow larger and sprout wings. They are starting to feed on other trees and plants now, but one of their favorite plants is still our grapevines! There are a few ways that these bugs damage our vines. By feeding on the vascular system of the plant, the SLF is sucking out vital nutrients and moisture needed for the productivity of the plant. In addition, they can introduce pathogens into the plants system that can cause other diseases and problems. The other issue is that their excrement, a sweet sticky clear liquid, causes a black mold on the plant. This mold will block the photosynthesis on the leaves and restrict the energy the plant can absorb. All this adds up to a crop that is smaller and may not be ripe as well as keeping the plant from building the energy reserves needed to survive the cold temperatures and push bud for the next season. Eventually the negative flow of energy will kill off the plant.

So, what can we do about it? Well, the information from other regions has shown that there is a front wave of invasion that settles down a bit after a few seasons. Removing Tree of Heaven from your property which is a favorite plant of them, will help a lot as well. We had quite a few volunteers come out and “Scrape for the Grape.” They killed the egg masses on the vines before they hatched. Thanks to them, we believe over 250,000 eggs were destroyed in just our vineyards! On our vineyard posts, I was able to use the propane torch to pop the eggs like popcorn. We apply a horticulture oil to smother any eggs that are left. We then apply another round when the nymphs are out and on the vines. We continue to monitor and spot treat as needed.

I noticed last year that they went hiding about mid-season until it was close to harvest. Then they showed up en masse as you see in the other photo. Scouting for these little pests is a key part to keeping our vines alive and healthy.

We will continue to apply compost, irrigate through the drought periods and attack pests when it makes most sense. With the long cold period this past January and February, we are hoping that a good percentage of the eggs were frozen and will not hatch this spring. But as you can see by our game plan, we are not taking any chances.

You Spot ‘em, You Swat ‘em!

As you are sitting on the deck in the fall enjoying your glass of Virginia wine, be sure to squish any of those brazen Spotted Lantern Flies that would dare to interrupt your moment of bliss, or our effort to deliver quality wines. Farmers rarely get to rest, and this pest is just the latest one to bite into our plants, efforts and business plan. Thanks for squishing and supporting your local fruit farmer!

About the Author: Farmer, winemaker, entrepreneur, educator, and leader, Doug Fabbioli has been accelerating the growth and quality of Virginia’s wine industry since 1997. With his wife Colleen, Doug is the owner/operator of Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, VA. He is the founder and director of The New Ag School, which focuses on teaching the next generation of farmers and agriculture-related leaders. No wonder they call Doug Fabbioli the Godfather of DC’s Wine Country.