Spotted lanternfly killing season is about to begin. The invasive species is set to return to Western Pennsylvania later this summer, but as eggs begin hatching in early May, state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding encourages all Pennsylvanians to destroy the egg masses before the flying insects wreak havoc on Keystone State agriculture.
“As you clean up your yard or enjoy these early spring days, every egg mass you scrape and squash means 30–50 pests won’t hatch in May,” he said in a statement. “Everyone can help stop this nuisance that threatens valuable plants and outdoor businesses.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture remains aggressive in its battle against Lycorma delicatula, seeking and destroying the insect whenever possible and declaring a vehicle quarantine in 52 counties across the state, including almost every county in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
As the Post-Gazette previously reported, “The quarantine applies to trucking firms, train lines and companies that dispatch vehicles of any kind into or out of the impacted zones. Owners of those commercial vehicles are required to obtain a free permit verifying that the driver can recognize and will remove spotted lanternflies and their egg masses.”
As the pest moves westward, its presence has tapered in the Eastern half of the state. But here in the Pittsburgh region, more bugs are expected than last year, as the predator-free invaders gorge on the sap from high-value agricultural crops. They’re coming for our apples and grapes, and it’s up to us to bring the fight to them before the situation gets out of hand.
Egg masses look like dried mud or dirt on walls, cars, building-sides and even airplanes. The masses should be scraped with a putty knife or hard, flat tool like a credit card, to ensure their complete removal.
Spotted lanternflies are persistent. Simply scraping off the egg masses is not enough, especially if you flush or trash them. They will quickly adapt to new environments, so the best course of action is to drown the masses in rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer after scraping, keeping the unhatched flies in a fluid hostile to their existence.
Previous estimates have placed the annual threat to the commonwealth’s agriculture at over $300 million.
We don’t have to wait until July, when the flies are big and distinctive (and excellent at jumping out of the way of stomping shoes), to begin their eradication. We should all get our scrapers and rubbing alcohol, drowning egg masses before the adult lanternflies make it impossible to enjoy a nice, Pennsylvania-made glass of wine.
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP
