Nature’s Pest Control: Bats vs. the Spotted Lanternfly
The invasive spotted lanternfly has become a household name across the Northeast, damaging vineyards, fruit trees, and hardwoods while leaving sticky honeydew in its wake. Communities have poured resources into managing this pest with traps, pesticides, and even stomping campaigns. But new research suggests that nature is already stepping up with its own solution.
Bats to the Rescue
Researchers at Rutgers University analyzed bat guano across New Jersey and made an exciting discovery: nearly 30% of the samples contained DNA from spotted lanternflies. That means native bats are actively hunting and eating this invasive insect.
This finding is more than just good news for farmers and foresters. It’s a glimpse into ecological resilience—the ability of ecosystems to adapt and respond when a new threat emerges. Our bats, already important predators of moths and mosquitoes, are expanding their menu to help control an invasive species.
Why This Matters
Pesticide-free control: Every lanternfly a bat eats is one less that requires human intervention. Supporting bats means less reliance on harmful chemicals.
Healthy ecosystems are flexible ecosystems: When we protect and restore habitats for bats, birds, and other predators, we strengthen the natural checks and balances that keep pests in control.
Every backyard matters: Native trees, pollinator gardens, water features, and leaving dead snags when safe all provide roosting and feeding opportunities for bats.
Building Landscapes That Support Resilience
This research underscores an important truth: when we create landscapes rich in native biodiversity, we create systems capable of self-correcting. Instead of fighting invasive species alone, we empower nature’s allies to step in.
Supporting bats doesn’t require caves or forests in your backyard. It can be as simple as:
Reducing outdoor lighting to help bats hunt more effectively.
Planting native species that attract the insects bats naturally feed on.
Preserving mature trees and woodland edges where bats roost.
Installing bat boxes in areas with limited natural roosting habitat.
Closing Thought
The sight of a lanternfly might make us want to stomp, but our ecosystems are already evolving ways to respond. By supporting bats and other native wildlife, we lean into resilience instead of reaction. That’s the heart of rewilding: building landscapes where nature has the power to balance itself.
📖 Read more from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service here: Stopping the Spotted Lanternfly in Its Tracks