The Oley Township supervisors have put residents on alert about the invasion of a Southeast Asian species of moth known to ravage fruit and timber crops.
The spotted lanternfly has been identified in District, Pike, Rockland, Washington and Hereford townships, and Bechtelsville and Bally boroughs, prompting the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to place a quarantine on those areas.
During a public meeting held Nov. 8 at the Oley Valley Middle School and attended by supervisors Jeffrey Spatz and James Coker, local officials urged communities to take the quarantine seriously.
“This is something that, if not managed or maintained in a controlled fashion, could be devastating to our crops, to our forests, to our vineyards. I would encourage the residents of Oley to get some education on this.”
The quarantine means that items that could carry the invasive pest and its larvae should not leave the area without proper certification. Such items include: any living spotted lanternfly, yard waste, construction waste, firewood, packing materials such as wood crates, plants or plant parts, outdoor items such as RV’s, lawn mowers, chairs, grills, tarps, trucks or other vehicles not stored indoors (source: PA Department of Agriculture).
Representative David M. Maloney, in attendance at the township meeting and an organizer of the Nov. 9 meeting, said the species is so new to the area that not much is known about it. What is known is that much of the information available is only published in Chinese, making it difficult to translate and therefore discuss.
“What we do know is that it is here and we need to deal with it firsthand,” Maloney said. “It’s favorite habitat is the Tree of Heaven, or Atlantis tree, which looks very much like a Sumac tree. We’re trying to get as much information as possible, but it has become very evident that we do not know how to handle this.”
Spatz emphasized that while Oley Township was not currently quarantined, it was imperative that residents become educated. “We can look for where they are laying eggs and destroy them. Do your part and get some information. While there’s no need to panic, if we treat it with apathy, we’re going to pay for it.”
