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PA Agriculture Dept. Continues Battle Against Spotted Lanternfly


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Cambria, Cameron, Westmoreland counties added to PA's Spotted Lanternfly quarantine zone


by WJAC Staff

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
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JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WJAC) — Cambria, Cameron and Westmoreland were among eight new counties added to Pennsylvania’s Spotted Lanternfly quarantine zone as the invasive pests continue to infest the state.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Cambria, Cameron, Franklin, Lackawanna, Montour, Pike, Wayne and Westmoreland counties were all added to the list ahead of the 2021 spring hatch which brings the total number of counties quarantined to 34.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

 

“The Spotted Lanternfly is more than a pest in the literal sense,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “It’s wreaking havoc for home and business owners, kids who just want to play outside, Pennsylvania agriculture and the economy of the state we all call home. Whether you think it’s your job or not, we need every Pennsylvanian to keep their eyes peeled for signs of this bad bug – to scrape every egg mass, squash every bug, and report every sighting. We need to unite in our hatred for this pest for our common love: Pennsylvania.”

Redding says the most recent counties added to the quarantine list are not yet completely infested, but have a few municipalities with a known infestation.

“When we expand the quarantine, our goal is to slow the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly,” said Dr. Ruth Welliver, director of the department’s Bureau of Plant Industry. “And we have slowed it. Last spring we quarantined 12 counties with isolated infestations, and those counties have not been overrun because of the heightened awareness a quarantine brings. With continued aggressive treatment and monitoring, and an actively engaged community, we can help ensure families and businesses in these new counties aren’t inconvenienced by widespread infestation."

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USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

 

The Rapid Response Disaster Readiness line of Gov. Tom Wolf’s farm bill has helped fund quick and aggressive treatment to newly identified populations of Spotted Lanternfly.

According to the Department of Agriculture, officials have received more than $34 million since 2015 to help in the fight against the winged pests.

Gov. Wolf’s 2021-22 PA Farm Bill proposes another $3 million to combat Spotted Lanternfly, officials say.

A new addition to Pennsylvania’s battle against the Sotted Lanternfly is a German Shepherd named Lucky who’s been training since she was a puppy to sniff out the pests.                                                                                                                                                           SEE PICTURES    ;     https://wjactv.com/news/local/cambria-cameron-westmoreland-counties-added-to-pas-spotted-lanternfly-quarantine-zone

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  • 2 months later...

Pennsylvanians encouraged to use traps to catch Spotted Lanternflies

by: WTAJ Staff

Posted:  / Updated: 
 

(WTAJ) — The Department of Agriculture is calling on Pennsylvanians to help eliminate the Spotted Lanternfly to prevent the invasive species from causing any harm.

A specialist from the Department of Agriculture demonstrated a circle trap that will capture the Spotted Lanternfly without harming other insects. It involves creating a net that you can place around a tree to help capture the lanternfly whenever they fly off and crawl back up a tree.

“As the bugs are crawling up, they’re going to get up and feed them through a funnel,” said Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture Specialist Jay Losiewicz “Just remove the bag, zip tie it off and throw it away somewhere safe where you know it’s going to get disposed of properly. Then replace the old bag with a new bag and you’re ready to go for the entire season.”

You can buy your own circle trap or you can make your own. All you need are some plastic milk jugs, duct tape, screen wire twine, hot glue and storage bags.                                                                                                                                   SEE VIDEO REPORT     ;   https://www.wearecentralpa.com/news/regional-news/circle-traps-to-catch-spotted-lanternflies/

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  • 2 weeks later...

State using insecticide on invasive spotted lanternflies


by The Associated Press

<p>Spotted Lanternfly (WJAC){/p}
<p>Spotted Lanternfly (WJAC){/p}
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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania has started using insecticide on spotted lanternflies.

It's a new strategy that state officials are using to try to slow the spread of the invasive pest.

RELATED| Spotted Lanternfly 'spotted' in our area, new counties added to quarantine zone

The state Department of Agriculture said Friday that crews using backpack sprayers and truck-mounted spray equipment are spraying the bugs along railways, interstates and other transportation rights-of-way.

Native to Asia, the insect sucks sap from valuable trees and vines, weakening them.

The Agriculture Department says the insecticide will not be used near water or flowering plants because the active ingredient is toxic to fish and bees.

MORE| Dept. of Ag specialist demonstrates how to make Spotted Lanternfly traps                                                                                                                        https://wjactv.com/news/local/state-using-insecticide-on-invasive-spotted-lanternflies

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Any of your who are willing to check the grove of Tree of Heaven right behind the bank near Bucks Pizza in Clearfield, please do so.  I have been checking it for 3 years now anytime I go through there.  So far, no Spotted Lanternflies or egg masses, but with as many vehicles as go past them, it's probably going to be a major place to watch.  They are mainly spread by vehicles of any kind such as trains, cars, motorcycles, buses, trucks, etc., including on their loads.  The tree are down below the roadway, so they are in a perfect site to catch any that drop off as they pass.  

If you turn in where the bank's Drive Through is, there is a small utility building in the back.  It's easy to park back there too. The trees are in between the utility building and the upper roadway heading up over the hill toward Ollies.  The leaves smell like peanut butter and the branch structure reminds you of huge Sumac.  They are down low and I think there are about 7-9 trees there. The trunk bark is webbed.  I've asked a lot of people to check when they can, but more eyes will see them sooner in and when they arrive.

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  • 4 months later...

Secretary of Agriculture: Every Spotted Lanternfly Egg Mass Not Destroyed Is 50 More Next Spring, ‘That’s Scary’

October 30, 2021 12:22 am·
Author: Aly Delp
 

Screen-Shot-2021-10-29-at-3.58.30-PM.pngHARRISBURG, Pa. – Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding recently reminded Pennsylvanians of the importance of vigilance against the Spotted Lanternfly as the bugs begin laying eggs on flat surfaces to overwinter and hatch in the spring.

(Photo: Front yard Halloween décor featuring Spotted Lanternflies by Camp Hill, PA resident Angela Powars. Courtesy of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture)

“Every Spotted Lanternfly egg mass not scraped and destroyed now is up to 50 more of these invasive, destructive bugs we can expect to hatch next spring,” said Redding.

“We need every Pennsylvanian to hunt for egg masses this fall and winter and destroy them – or we’re in for a scary spring.”

Spotted Lanternfly egg masses are a light gray wax-like substance that take on the appearance of mud and encompass an average of 30-50 individual eggs. Egg masses can be found on many flat surfaces including trees, rocks, and outside objects such as picnic tables, playground equipment, grills, and sidings of homes.

Property owners can scrape egg masses whenever encountered using a hard or rigid tool such as a credit card, putty knife, or a stick. Research has not yet confirmed whether egg masses can survive if scraped onto the ground, so it is best to scrape the egg masses in a downward motion into a container or bag with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.

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“From hunters, to businesses, to even our youngest Pennsylvanians, we can all do our part to stomp out this nuisance bug,” added Redding. “If you’re a hunter, keep your eyes peeled while you’re in the woods this fall. If you’re a PA business, get a permit and check out our business toolkit to see how you can be a part of the solution. And if you’ve got young kids, send them outside of your house for an egg mass treasure hunt. It’s up to all of us to stop this pest for the sake of our $132.5 billion agriculture industry and the quality of life for more than 13 million Pennsylvanians.”

The Spotted Lanternfly is an inch-long black, red, and white insect native to Southeast Asia and first identified in Pennsylvania in 2014. The invasive insect feeds on agricultural commodities produced in the state such as grapes, tree fruit, and hardwoods.

Pennsylvanians are encouraged to report sightings of the insect through the online reporting tool or by calling 1-888-4BAD-FLY, a hotline managed by our partners at Penn State Extension.

A Spotted Lanternfly Business Toolkit is available to help operations learn about why the spotted lanternfly is bad, how the quarantine works, if they need a permit, and responsibilities of holding a permit.

For more information on Spotted Lanternfly, visit agriculture.pa.gov/spottedlanternfly.

Note: High quality, public domain photos of the Spotted Lanternfly are available for download through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Spotted Lanternfly Flickr album. Designed graphics for social or other media use to raise awareness of the Spotted Lanternfly and new quarantine can be downloaded from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s 2021 Spotted Lanternfly Flickr album.

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