Can Milkweed Help Control Spotted Lanternflies? A Look at the Research

• Sep 18, 2025
• by Julia Stygar

Recent research is exploring whether milkweed (Asclepias spp.) can help control the invasive spotted lanternfly (SLF). While some reports claim SLF die after feeding on milkweed, scientific studies have not yet confirmed this.

A current SARE-funded project is testing whether milkweed’s toxic compounds (cardenolides) are lethal to SLF and if planting it along vineyard borders could reduce infestations. Early lab results are promising, but there’s no peer-reviewed evidence yet proving milkweed is an effective control method. The projected end date of the study is in 2028, which will hopefully bring more conclusive evidence if milkweed will be a future tool for managing SLF populations.

Until more data is available, milkweed should not be relied on as a standalone solution—but it may become part of future strategies.

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