Episode
Spotted Lanternfly Honey: Beekeeper Opportunity? (377)
- Podcast
- Beekeeping Today Podcast
- Published
- Mar 23, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3161
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/377-spotted-lanternfly-honey
Actions
POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/beekeeping-today-podcast-512758/episodes/spotted-lanternfly-honey-beekeeper-opportunity-377/transcription-requests
Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/beekeeping-today-podcast-512758/spotted-lanternfly-honey-beekeeper-opportunity-377.md
Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.
Summary
In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast , Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman explore a topic that can divide beekeepers, almost immediately: spotted lanternfly honey. Today's conversation centers on spotted lanternflies, an invasive pest spreading across the eastern United States. Guests Dr. Robyn Underwood (Penn State Extension) and Dr. Ferhat Ozturk bring both field experience and research insight to the discussion. Robyn shares firsthand observations from Pennsylvania, where the insect first established, while Ferhat connects the honey produced from lanternfly honeydew to broader research on honey composition and bioactive properties. Together, they unpack what spotted lanternfly honey actually is, how bees collect it, how it tastes, and why it has generated both excitement and skepticism. The discussion remains grounded—this is not a silver bullet product—but rather a unique honey source emerging from an ecological challenge. For beekeepers, the key takeaway is perspective. Even in the presence of invasive species, honey bees adapt, forage, and sometimes create new opportunities. Understanding those dynamics helps beekeepers make informed decisions rather than react to headlines. This episode offers a balanced look at a rapidly evolving topic, blending science, field observations, and practical beekeeping considerations. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: Spotted Lanternfly Distribution Map: https://cals.cornell.edu/integrated-pest-management/outreach-education/whats-bugging-you/spotted-lanternfly/spotted-lanternfly-reported-distribution-map Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast : https://honeybeeobscura.c…