Tree of Heaven

Recently, an Ohioan returned from a road trip to Pennsylvania. In addition to all the memories made, this traveler unintentionally brought back a hitch-hiker – a spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) (SLF). The individual quickly captured and ended the insect’s life before reaching out to his local Extension Educator. The suspect sample was submitted to the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) for confirmation based on the USDA protocol established to confirm non-native pests not currently established, or with limited presence in the case of Asian Longhorned beetle, in the state.

Staghorn Sumac is a native to Ohio and a great naturalizer plant. Tree of Heaven is an invasive and extremely aggressive in growth and proliferation. by Ann Chanon and Thomas deHaas

Ailanthus Webworm caterpillars feed exclusively on the non-native, highly invasive, misleadingly named Tree of Heaven. I came across a heavy webworm population this week while lumbering through a thick growth of tree of heaven saplings in search of Spotted Lanternfly.