Lanternfly Honey: A Controversial New Product Emerges

William Williams · 2025-12-07

### The Unlikely Source of a New Honey A new and controversial product has entered the market: lanternfly honey. This development presents a complex intersection of invasive species management, apiculture, and food production that is sparking significant discussion among beekeeping and pest control professionals. The spotted lanternfly, an invasive planthopper native to Asia, has caused extensive agricultural and ecological damage across several U.S. states. Its rapid spread and destructive feeding habits have made it a primary target for eradication efforts. The emergence of honey derived from these insects raises immediate questions about methodology, safety, and ethics within the professional pest management community. ### Understanding the Spotted Lanternfly Threat For pest control professionals focused on apiculture, the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a well-known adversary. This invasive insect feeds voraciously on the sap of over 70 plant species, including grapevines, fruit trees, and hardwoods. Its feeding weakens plants, reduces crop yields, and leads to the secretion of a sugary substance called honeydew. This honeydew fosters the growth of sooty mold, which further damages plants and can create hazardous, slippery surfaces. Traditional control methods have included trapping, pesticide applications, and public reporting campaigns. The concept of harvesting a product from this pest represents a radical shift in approach. ### The Production Process: Ethical and Practical Concerns The specific methods used to produce lanternfly honey are a central point of professional concern. While details are often guarded, the process likely involves bees collecting the honeydew excreted by lanternflies as they feed on tree sap. This indirect method means the honey is not made from the insects themselves but from their waste product. For beekeepers, this introduces several critical issues. First, the nutritional quality for bee colonies is questionable compared to floral nectar. Second, managing hives in heavily infested areas risks exposing bees to pesticides used in lanternfly control programs. Professionals must weigh whether encouraging apiary activity in infestation zones supports management goals or creates unintended consequences. ### Quality, Safety, and Market Viability From a product standpoint, honey derived from honeydew (like forest honey or some fir honeys) is not new. However, honeydew from an invasive pest species is unprecedented. Pest control professionals must consider the safety profile. Honeydew can concentrate compounds from the host plants, some of which may be toxic or undesirable. Furthermore, the presence of potential pathogens or residues from lanternfly control measures requires rigorous testing. The market viability of such a product is also uncertain. Consumer acceptance of a honey linked to a widely despised invasive insect may be low, despite any purported unique flavor profile. Labeling and transparency will be major regulatory hurdles. ### Implications for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) This development forces a reevaluation of Integrated Pest Management strategies. Could harvesting honeydew become a novel control tactic by removing a food source for sooty mold and other insects? Or does it create a perverse economic incentive that undermines eradication efforts? Professionals must analyze whether this represents a form of utilization-based management or a distraction from core containment goals. The primary mission remains protecting agriculture and native ecosystems. Any practice that potentially normalizes or commercializes the lanternfly must be scrutinized for its long-term impact on eradication and containment protocols. ### A Professional Call for Caution and Research For beekeeping pest control professionals, the arrival of lanternfly honey is a development that demands caution, skepticism, and rigorous science. Before any integration into practice or endorsement, comprehensive research is needed on its effects on bee health, hive productivity, and final product safety. The professional community should advocate for clear regulations and standards governing such novel products. The focus must remain on sustainable, effective pest management that safeguards both agriculture and apiculture. This unusual honey serves as a reminder that invasive species challenges continually evolve, requiring adaptable, evidence-based responses from the professionals tasked with managing them.