Invasive Species Alert: How Spotted Lanternfly and Emerald Ash Borer Are Threatening Long Island Trees in 2025
Long Island homeowners are facing an unprecedented threat to their trees from two devastating invasive species that are rapidly spreading across the Northeast. As of January 2025, 18 states have some degree of Spotted Lanternfly infestation, including New York, while the emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive wood-boring beetle from Asia, is responsible for the death and decline of tens of millions of ash trees in North America. These destructive pests are not just environmental concerns—they pose immediate risks to your property value, safety, and the natural beauty of Nassau and Suffolk County landscapes.
Understanding the Spotted Lanternfly Threat
The spotted lanternfly has become a major concern for Long Island property owners. This invasive insect from China feeds on the sap of a wide variety of plants, including forest trees, such as black walnut, maple, birch, and willow, as well as important agricultural crops. What makes this pest particularly dangerous is its feeding behavior: it inserts its straw-like mouthpart through the plant’s bark, which creates wounds allowing plant diseases a point of entry, and produces large amounts of a sugary substance called honeydew which coats surfaces below them.
The visual signs of spotted lanternfly infestation are unmistakable. As they eat through trees, spotted lanternflies secrete a sticky substance of partially digested tree sap called “honey dew” which collects on the ground around the infected tree, becoming visible when black fungus, called sooty mold, grows on the honey dew. This not only damages your trees but creates unsightly conditions around your property.
The Emerald Ash Borer Crisis
If you have ash trees on your Long Island property, you’re facing an even more urgent threat. Ash trees lose most of their canopy within 2 years of infestation and die within 3-4 years. The emerald ash borer has been particularly devastating because there is no known way to completely eradicate the growing emerald ash borer populations, and we are not able to grow new ash trees at the rate that they are being destroyed, potentially resulting in total ash tree elimination.
For homeowners, this presents serious safety and financial concerns. Ash trees are common to residential neighborhoods in suburban areas, and when infected trees decay and die, they become frail and pose a significant fall risk which can severely damage your home or cause personal injury, while air conditioning costs rise as large ash trees that once provided shade become obsolete.
Why Professional Tree Service is Critical
Managing invasive species requires specialized knowledge and equipment that goes far beyond typical tree maintenance. Tree Service Companies have to be trained in proper moving and disposal of materials to avoid spread of the spotted lanternfly, and companies must complete specific training courses. This is why choosing an experienced, certified tree service provider is essential for protecting your Long Island property.
When dealing with invasive species, timing is everything. Finding spotted lanternfly egg masses before they hatch is your best defense against infestations, while emerald ash borer requires immediate professional treatment to save affected trees. For properties in areas like Yaphank and throughout Suffolk County, professional tree removal Yaphank services become necessary when trees are too damaged to save or pose safety risks.
Long Island Best Tree Service: Your Defense Against Invasive Species
At Long Island Best Tree Service, we understand the unique challenges that invasive species present to Nassau and Suffolk County properties. With 20+ years of experience providing high-quality residential and commercial tree services across Long Island, New York City, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, our team has the expertise to identify, treat, and manage invasive species threats.
Safety is always our top priority, and our team of technicians receives extensive training to ensure that they deliver outstanding results using the highest quality tools and equipment. When it comes to invasive species management, this expertise is crucial—improper handling can actually accelerate the spread of these destructive pests to other areas.
What Property Owners Should Do Now
The key to protecting your Long Island property from invasive species is early detection and professional intervention. Local, state and federal government are partnering to implement control or eradication programs, and visual inspection or trapping methods can find new infestations, but homeowners need professional help to properly identify and address these threats.
Don’t wait until you see obvious signs of damage. Growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing city expansion, higher frequency of storms, increasing spread of pests and diseases, and major trends include demand for tree health assessments. Regular professional tree assessments are becoming essential for Long Island homeowners who want to protect their property investments.
Customer satisfaction is always our top priority, and knowing that you have a reliable and trusted tree service company that you can call on in an emergency situation can provide you with peace of mind. With invasive species spreading rapidly across Long Island, having a professional relationship with an experienced tree service provider isn’t just convenient—it’s essential protection for your property and your family’s safety.
Contact Long Island Best Tree Service today for a comprehensive property assessment. Our certified arborists can identify potential invasive species threats, recommend appropriate treatments, and develop a management plan that protects your trees and your investment in your Long Island home.