STOMPNymph Season

What You're Looking For

SLF nymphs go through four instars. Early nymphs (1st–3rd instar) are black with white spots, about the size of a pencil eraser. Late nymphs (4th instar) are bright red with white spots and black legs — striking and unmistakable.

• ▸1st–3rd instar: Black body with white spots, 3–7mm
• ▸4th instar: Red body with white spots and black markings, ~12mm
• ▸Move in groups — look for clusters on tree trunks
• ▸Often found walking up trunks of Tree of Heaven and grapevines
• ▸Jump when disturbed — fast movers

What To Do Right Now

1. 1

   Set up circle traps

   Wrap a circle trap (mesh funnel) around the trunk of any preferred host tree, positioned below the first branch. SLF nymphs walk up trunks to feed — they crawl into the funnel and fall into the collection bag. Empty it every few days.

2. 2

   Use wire-mesh sticky bands (not bare sticky bands)

   Place sticky bands 4–5 feet off the ground on host tree trunks. Critical: use wire-mesh-covered sticky bands only. Bare sticky tape is dangerous — birds and small mammals get stuck and die. The mesh lets you catch SLF while excluding wildlife.

3. 3

   Stomp on sight

   Direct killing works great on nymphs. They cluster and move slowly enough to stomp. A shoe sole, a flip flop, a rolled newspaper — all effective. Stomp into soil, don't just knock off.

4. 4

   Apply contact insecticide if heavy infestation

   Bifenthrin, carbaryl, or neem oil (organic option) applied directly to nymph clusters provides fast knockdown. Spray early morning when SLF are least active. Don't spray flowering plants.

5. 5

   Attack Tree of Heaven

   The fastest way to reduce nymph pressure is to eliminate their favorite host. Cut-and-treat TOH stumps with triclopyr or glyphosate immediately after cutting. Don't just cut — it resprouts aggressively.