The Newest Pest Invasion In Virginia Has Caused Parts Of The State To Go Under Quarantine
By Beth|Published June 30, 2019
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Beth
Author
A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Charlottesville. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.
Here in Virginia, we’re no strangers to pests. Whether they be ticks, cicadas, or ants, they have an uncanny way of getting our attention and causing anxiety. While some pests are harmless, others wreak havoc on our plants. One such example is relatively new to Virginia and could have dire consequences to our native tree population: the Spotted Lanternfly. Here’s more on the newest pest invasion in Virginia that has caused some parts of the state to go under quarantine.
The Spotted Lanternfly hails from East Asia and resembles a combination of a moth and a fly, though it is technically a species known as a planthopper.
Though the Spotted Lanternfly looks fairly harmless, it is renowned for its destructive properties in the tropics. Here in Virginia, it seems to have zeroed in on the native Green and White Ash Trees.
The insect was first spotted in Pennsylvania in 2014. Over twelve counties in that state have been quarantined, meaning that companies that move material in and out of those particular zones need a special permit to do so.
In the spring of 2018, the Lanternfly was seen in Winchester, Virginia, where it most likely arrived via a landscape stone shipment. The eggs of the Lanternfly are barely visible, so it can be nearly impossible to detect. Photographed below is an image of a nymph.
This newest pest has made its home in the northern parts of Virginia. Recently, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services mandated a quarantine for Winchester and Frederick Counties.
What makes the Lanternfly such a threat is its ability to hitchhike. While they can't hop or fly, their ability to grab onto a host and be carried into a new habitat is threatening.
While the invasion is worrisome, there are a few silver linings. First, the bug doesn't bite or carry diseases harmful to humans. Secondly, the preferred host of the tree is the tree-of-heaven, one that has also naturalized in the U.S. from China.
Because trees-of-heaven are invaders, it would be a fortunate outcome for the Lanternfly to feast on those trees alone. However, this pest is known to make a host from over 70 tree species, severely weakening them in the process. In addition to ash trees, the pest is also drawn to oaks, maples, and black walnuts.
What are your thoughts on this newest pest invasion? Be sure to share with us in the comments below. If you have noticed the Spotted Lanternfly in Virginia, be sure to make a report to the Virginia Cooperative Extinction.
For more information about the Spotted Lanternfly, you can this recent article from the Washington Post.
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