Spring has arrived, bringing spotted lanternfly season, which will once again threatens plant and fruit gardens, along with trees and farms across the state, writes Damon C. Williams for the Bucks County Courier Times.
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has issued another spotted lanternfly quarantine alert for several counties, including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia.
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect that feeds on a wide range of crops and plants, including grapes, apples, hops, walnuts, and hardwood trees. It also excretes honeydew, which attracts bees, wasps, and other insects, and accumulates on surfaces beneath the insect.
The state encourages residents to destroy the bug and its egg masses by physically removing them or using pesticides.
“You can help keep lanternflies from becoming a summer nuisance and harming our valuable grape and nursery industries,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell. “Every spotted lanternfly egg mass you scrape and squash is 30-50 damage-causing insects that won’t hatch in May.”
Residents who prefer not to engage with the insect at all can report its location using the online spotted lanternfly reporting tool. They can also call 1-888-4BADFLY.
Read more about the spotted lanternfly in the Bucks County Courier Times.
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