What should we do to deal with spotted lanternflies?
In March 2020, 26 counties in Pennsylvania, including Beaver, were placed under quarantine. While many would assume this was part of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was actually put in place by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, to stop the spread of something else entirely  the spotted lanternfly. First identified in Pennsylvania in 2014, in Berks County, the spotted lanternflies are a problem the state agriculture department, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Penn State Cooperative Extension are attempting to control. They originated from Asia, likely from different forms of commerce. This is according to Emelie Swackhamer, a horticulture extension education at the Montgomery County extension office. Recently, spotted lanternflies were reported sighted in Baden, and have been located in 34 counties, with eight counties being put under quarantine in March 2021. More:Spotted lanternflies spotted in Baden  A passion for plants and grapes  Swackhamer spoke recently about the dangers posed by the insects, how to trap and/or kill them safely, and the steps that are being taken to control the spread of the pests. She said when it comes to what they eat, the extensions primary concern is grapes. Swackhammer said lanternflies love to eat grapes and have been known to eat and destroy entire vineyards and grapevines in large areas. She said this is concerning for both people who grow grapes for wine in the southeast part of the state, and for those in the northwest who grow grapes for juice. We grow a lot of grapes in Pennsylvania, Swackhamer said. She said the lanternflies are also known to feast on all kinds of plants and trees, especially when they are in their nymph stage, or when they first come out of their eggs. Regarding trees, Swackhammer said they love to eat trees called Tree of Heaven, which were also brought over from Asia, as well as red and silver maple, birch, willow and sycamore. Weve seen them feed on a large number of trees, she said. How to report and treat them  Swackhamer said the most important thing people can do to prevent the spread of the pests to report them whenever they see them. There are multiple ways for people to report them. They can use the Penn State extension website: https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly, call the hotline 888-422-3359 or go to the PDA website. Typically, the lanternflies are in their egg masses from September through May, in their nymph or young form from April through October, and are in their adult form from July through November. Swackhamer said if residents see the lanternflies, to report them, and, if possible, try to kill them or have a professional come and treat plants for them. She said residents who dont wish to use insecticides can kill them with a simple flyswatter or use traps, with more information on traps available on their website. If residents use traps, Swackhamer said she hopes people make sure not to trap other creatures into the traps. If they wish to use insecticides, she advises residents to use as least toxic of one as possible. Swackhammer also said the residents can use two kinds of insecticides. They are contact sprays, which are sprayed directly on the pests, or systemic sprays, which are absorbed into the trees/plants, making them toxic to the insects. Swackhamer said if using an insecticide, it is state law to have the label state what the product will be sprayed on, either the bugs or the plants/trees. She also suggested residents wait until they see the bugs before starting to spray plants/trees with the insecticides. What is being done under quarantine  Swackhamer said the lanternflies do not bite humans or other animals, although she said she wouldnt allow pets to eat them. She said lanternflies lay their eggs on any solid object, which leads to them being spread across the counties. People should be aware of them and avoid spreading them around, Swackhamer said. Therefore, different measures have been in place in counties that have been placed under PDA quarantine. Businesses are required to watch and pass a training course on the lanternflies and have to sign a permit, stating whenever they move to and from somewhere, or move materials that are outside, they have to check for eggs and the bugs, and report their findings. While residents dont have to sign a permit, they are asked to do the same thing whenever they move any outdoor object, whether it be a basketball or a skateboard, to lumber, metals, plastic, childrens play equipment and other outdoor equipment and furniture. Residents are asked to fill out a form and report the lanternflies if they find anything, with the forms available on the extension website. Currently, the only counties close to Beaver that have had reported sightings of lanternflies are Allegheny and Westmoreland. However, Swackhamer said it is very possible for the pests to have traveled to other nearby counties, with the state able to put counties under quarantine at any time. We need everybodys eyes and ears out there looking, she said.