PENNSYLVANIA, USA — Note: The video is from May 2023.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture on Tuesday reminded residents that the invasive spotted lanternflies have reached their adult phase.
Which means it's time to start squashin'.
The Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive species that came to the U.S. from Asia. It was first discovered in Pennsylvania 10 years ago, and has since spread across the commonwealth. Most of Pennsylvania -- including all nine counties in Central Pennsylvania -- have been placed in a spotted lanternfly quarantine zone.
"If you see a spotted lanternfly, it's imperative to immediately report it online or via phone by calling 1-888-4BADFLY," the department said. "Especially if you are not inside the quarantine zone.
"What else? Kill it! Squash it, smash it...just get rid of it. In the fall, these bugs will lay egg masses with 30-50 eggs each. These are called bad bugs for a reason, don't let them take over your county next."
The are only 15 Pennsylvania counties not under quarantine, all of which are located across the northern portion of the state, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Why Squish Them?
The spotted lanternfly causes serious damage including oozing sap, wilting, leaf curling and dieback in trees, vines, crops and many other types of plants, the department said.
In addition to plant damage, when spotted lanternflies feed, they excrete a sugary substance, called honeydew, that encourages the growth of black sooty mold. This mold is harmless to people however it causes damage to plants.
In counties infested and quarantined for spotted lanternfly, residents report hundreds of these bad bugs that affect their quality of life and ability to enjoy the outdoors during the spring and summer months. Spotted lanternflies will cover trees, swarm in the air, and their honeydew can coat decks and play equipment.
In addition to damaging trees and affecting quality of life, the spotted lanternfly is a huge threat to Pennsylvania agriculture industry. The economic impact could total in the hundreds of millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of jobs for those in the grapes, apple, hops, and hardwood industries.
Know Your Enemy
The spotted lanternfly adult is approximately 1 inch long and 1/2 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. The legs and head are black; the abdomen is yellow with broad black bands. Immature stages are black with white spots, and develop red patches as they grow.
What Happens After You Report Them?
Both the PDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) value all public reports for spotted lanternfly, but they are not able to respond to every report as they receive, on average, more than 1,500 reports a week.
PDA and USDA follow up with all reports of Spotted Lanternfly in Pennsylvania counties that are not quarantined for spotted lanternfly to discover, contain and limit further spread of the invasive insect.
They also use all the reported data from across the Commonwealth to better understand the spread and numbers of the invasive insect, which directly contributes to when and where they treat.