State officials: Kill invasive spotted lanterflies on sight
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.”
First identified in Berks County in 2014, the spotted lanternfly has since multiplied and migrated across the state, infesting areas, including Allegheny County, Beaver County and, more recently, Westmoreland County.
Powers said there have been 10 spotted lanternfly sightings reported this year in Butler County. These reports are so far unconfirmed, and Butler County is not on the department's quarantine list.
The quarantine has been implemented for businesses that travel around because, according to Powers, the spotted lanternfly is a noted hitchhiker. Therefore, drivers in quarantine zones especially need to complete a spotted lanternfly training course because “no business wants to be responsible for transporting them to another state,” Powers said.
“They are spreading along the Turnpike, the interstate; they are absolutely traveling with people,” Powers said. “Quarantine requires you to have a permit. There is an online test and your company is required to have that permit.”According to the Department of Agriculture's website, the adult spotted lanternfly is approximately 1 inch long and a half-inch wide at rest. The forewing is grey with black spots and the wings' tips are reticulated black blocks outlined in grey. The hind wings have contrasting patches of red and black with a white band.Powers said that while killing an insect as pretty as the spotted lanternfly might seem ethically questionable, the damage they cause could be detrimental to the food supply.“They suck tremendous amounts of sap from a tree, then they shoot a sticky mess all over everything and that attracts mold and stinging insects,” she said. “They are a tremendous nuisance if you are trying to enjoy outdoor dining or an outdoor show, or if you are just trying to sit on your back porch.”Dustin Drew, manager of Moraine and McConnells Mill state parks, said the system of parks has been warned of the potential invasion of spotted lanternflies.“There is always a risk they could be found here,” he said.People are encouraged to report sightings to the Department of Agriculture at 1-888-4BADFLY.
