![]() ![]() Businesses that operate in, or travel through, counties under quarantine are required to obtain a permit.Īccording to the state, the quarantine prohibits the movement of spotted lanternflies, and it regulates movements of items such as firewood, tree parts, nursery stock, landscaping or construction waste - things that spotted lanternflies can cling to for transportation. Quarantines aim to stop the spread of the spotted lanternfly to new areas within or outside of the current quarantine, according to state authorities. “We expand the quarantine based on confirmed populations, so that’s why it’s important to report them,” Powers said. Those additions mean 51 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties are in quarantine. Butler County and five other counties were added to the list in February. She also said people were largely confined to their homes in 2021 because of the pandemic and had more free time to search for lanternflies and report them.Īllegheny, Armstrong and Westmoreland counties already are classified by the state Department of Agriculture as being in a spotted lanternfly quarantine. Powers noted reports are not always accurate, and they are not a count of lanternfly infestations but rather a measure of public awareness and willingness to report. Statewide, there were 42,440 reports of the insects in 2022, and 55,681 in 2021. In Westmoreland County, there were 161 public reports of spotted lanternflies in 2022, and 1,932 in 2021. Powers said in 2022, there were 4,512 public reports of spotted lanternflies in Allegheny County, compared to 24,595 in 2021. Circle traps guide spotted lanternflies into a container, such as a plastic jug or bag, at the top of the funnel as they move upward to feed on the tree. She said property owners can reduce infestations by using a “circle trap,” a funnel-type device that wraps around a tree trunk. It’s past the point of totally eradicating the pests, Feather said, but people can take steps to stop their spread. Powers said killing one spotted lanternfly prevents 30 to 60 insects from hatching next year. To stop their spread, people should scrape the egg masses and stomp on the adult pests when they see them. On May 9, the department received and confirmed reports of lanternflies hatching in Harrisburg.Īs of Wednesday, there has been only one confirmed report of hatching from Allegheny County and one in Westmoreland County, Powers said. There already have been a few reports in the southeast corner of Pennsylvania, said state Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Shannon Powers. ![]() With the warmer weather, laternflies should begin hatching in the next couple of weeks. Researchers are expecting the number of spotted lanternflies to increase this year, Feather said. If containment fails, spotted lanternflies could drain the state’s economy of at least $324 million annually and cause the loss of about 2,800 jobs, according to Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. Researchers say the insect threatens the state’s grape, tree fruit, hardwood and nursery industries. The invasive insect has spread throughout the state since its discovery in 2014 in Berks County. Insect,” said Sandy Feather, an educator with the Penn State Extension in Pittsburgh. Vineyards and Ailanthus altissima, commonly known as tree of heaven, are favorite targets. ![]() Spotted lanternflies cause damage by sucking sap, and the waste product of their diet can cause fungal disease. People, it is a danger to trees and other flora. The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect that has spread throughout Pennsylvania and other states. The best kind of spotted lanternfly is a dead spotted lanternfly, agricultural experts say. "We hope providing facts and concrete steps helps residents feel more in control of the situation." The meetings are free, but preregistration is required and can be done on the Penn State Extension's website at /spotted-lanternfly-public-meeting. June 14, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., Pittsburgh Botanic Garden in Pittsburgh "We want to help avoid people panicking and doing dangerous and ineffective things to control the spotted lanternfly, as we saw in the eastern part of the state," Feather said.June 12, 6 to 8 p.m., Frick Environmental Center in Pittsburgh.June 9, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., Four Seasons Lodge in Boyce Park. ![]()
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