On Sept. 22, 2014, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, confirmed the presence the spotted lanternfly, lycorma delicatula (white), in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The first detection of this non-native species in the United States. Now 13 counties in the eastern part of the state are under quarantine.Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture photo

The spotted lanternfly can be easily identified by its distinctive wings, which can be composed of multiple colors, including red, black and tan.

The state Department of Agriculture is asking people who spot these insects to report their location and, if possible, kill them in their tracks because the invasive species eats up crops, attracts mold and is a general nuisance.

“They're not just a nuisance or just destroying agricultural product, they could really be devastating to our overall economy,” said Shannon Powers, press secretary of the Department of Agriculture. “Pennsylvania feeds not just the nation, but the world with our crops.”

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