The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of the Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula, (WHITE)) in Berks County.
On Sept. 22, the department, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, confirmed the presence as part of its responsibility to identify plants/weeds, insects and mites, nematodes, fungi, bacteria and viruses that impact Pennsylvania’s natural resources, flora and economy.
The invasive pest’s recent discovery prompted the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture on Monday, Nov. 3, to place a quarantine on District and Pike townships.
Discovery of the pest in other areas last week has expanded the quarantine to now include Rockland, Washington and Hereford townships, and Bally and Bechtelsville boroughs.
This is the first detection of Spotted Lanternfly in the United States.
The Spotted Lanternfly is a planthopper from Asia, specifically found in China, Korea, India, Vietnam, and parts of eastern Asia. It is an invasive insect in Korea where it was introduced in 2006 and since has attacked 25 plant species which also grow in Pennsylvania.
In the U.S. it has the potential to greatly impact the grape, fruit tree and logging industries. This pest attacks many hosts including grapes, apples, pines, stone fruits and more than 70 additional species. Early detection is vital to the effective control of this pest and the protection of PA businesses and agriculture.
Response: Since the pest is new to the United States, the department is reviewing a variety of options including eradication. Currently a quarantine is in place to stop the movement of this pest to new areas and to slow its spread within the quarantine.
The department is working with other state and federal agencies to develop a comprehensive action plan and find tools useful for control of this pest.
The quarantine affects a variety of plant, wood and stone products.
What to do if you: See eggs: Scrape them off the tree or smooth surface, double bag them and throw them in the garbage, or place the eggs in alcohol or hand sanitizer to kill them.
Collect a specimen: Turn the adult specimen or egg mass in to the department’s Entomology Lab for verification. First, place the sample in alcohol or hand sanitizer in a leak proof container. A Sample Submission Form can be found by clicking the link below.
Report a site: Call the Bad Bug hotline at 1-866-253-7189 with details of the siting and your contact information.
