A tiny insect has caused big worries in Pennsylvania as officials ordered a quarantine to stop the spread of the colorful pest.
The Spotted Lanternfly, a red-and-white and spotted winged insect indigenous to parts of Asia, which feeds on grapes, apples, pines, stone fruits and more than 70 additional species continues to be spotted in Berks County, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
“Berks County is the front line in the war against Spotted Lanternfly,” said Agriculture Secretary George Greig.
On Monday, the Department of Agriculture called for a full quarantine of the insect -- which measures about 1-inch long as an adult -- in Pike and District townships in hopes of stopping the pests before extensive damage is done to the state’s multimillion-dollar fruit and multibillion-dollar logging industries.
“Since this is new to the country we are taking every precaution possible,” said Greig. “We need to do everything we can to stop the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly.”
Some of those measures include telling residents to keep firewood, yard waste, lawn mowers, grills, tarps and other outdoor items indoors instead.
“Help us by looking for adult insects and their egg clusters on your trees, cars, outside furniture -- any flat surface that the eggs may be attached to,” said Greig. “We know we’re asking a lot, but we know Pennsylvanians will assist us and help save our fruit trees, grapes and forests.”
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The Lanternfly, aka Lycorma delicatula, has no natural enemies and can only be controlled using pesticides that may also kill off the natural enemies of other pests, according to a report mentioned by KPBS.
The Spotted Lanternfly can lay 30 to 50 eggs at a time to the bark of a tree -- the pest especially likes the Tree of Heaven and other smooth bark trees -- leaving a gray, waxy, mudlike coating that looks like gray or black sap dripping down the tree once the eggs hatch, according to the PDA.
“We are taking every measure possible to learn more, educate the public and ourselves and eliminate this threat to agriculture,” said Greig.
If a person sees eggs, the PDA suggests scraping them off the tree, putting them into a double bag and throwing them away or placing alcohol on the eggs to kill them. The state will also inspect the specimens at any of its six regional offices.
If someone sees an adult Lanternfly, the PDA suggests gathering the insect in a leakproof container with alcohol or hand sanitizer inside. Once collected, you can take a photo of the specimen and send it to badbug@pa.gov or call the Bad Bug hotline at 1-866-253-7189.
The PDA announced that businesses and individuals in the quarantine area must move items inside or face criminal or civil penalties up to $20,000 and prison time if they don’t follow quarantine restrictions.
In hopes of educating the Berks County community, the PDA scheduled a meeting for 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Berks County Agricultural Center, 1238 County Welfare Road, Leesport. Those that can’t attend can call 610-378-1327 or join the meeting online.
