An Onslaught Of Lanternflies Is Taking Over Pennsylvania And Here's What You Need To Know
By Beth Price-Williams|Published October 01, 2019
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Eastern Pennsylvania’s trees are under attack, and Pennsylvania needs your help to stop the damage. For the past five years, 14 counties in Eastern Pennsylvania have been dealing with an onslaught of spotted lanternflies, particularly predominant in the spring and in the summer, that damages trees and causes problems for residents. Here’s a bit about the spotted lanternfly in Pennsylvania, including what to immediately do if you see them.
The spotted lanternfly made its first appearance in 2014, eventually spreading to 14 counties throughout Eastern Pennsylvania.
However, the invasive species generally originates in Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam, according to the PA Department of Agriculture.
Today, Pennsylvania is actively encouraging citizens, when they see spotted lanternflies, to kill them to help prevent the spread of these destructive insects.
Spotted lanternflies cause extreme damage to trees and vines by sucking the sap out of them. Other damages caused by the destructive insects include wilting and curling of leaves and the process of "dieback."
Twigs and branches begin to die, because of the spotted lanternflies, which is called dieback. The trees sometimes die as a result.
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Nature isn’t the only one to deal with the pesky insects. If you live in one of the counties that’s had confirmed instances of the spotted lanternfly, you may have noticed a film of honeydew covering your outdoor belongings.
Spring and summer are both bad for the insects. However, fall is also a dangerous time, when the spotted lanternflies lay between 30 and 50 eggs at a time.
Spotted lanternflies threaten the state of agriculture in Pennsylvania and are downright annoying for Pennsylvanians. They appear in swarms in neighborhoods, pestering residents, and damaging trees.
The spotted lanternfly spans, according to the PA Department of Agriculture, only an inch long. Check out the picture below, so you know how to identify one.
The PA Department of Agriculture asks you to do a few things if you see a spotted lanternfly. First and foremost, kill it. You can easily kill one by smashing it or doing whatever works best for you.
Once you’ve killed the spotted lanternflies, report them to the PA Department of Agriculture by calling 1-888-4BADFLY. You can also click here to report your sighting online.
Find an egg mass of spotted lanternflies? Kill them, too.
Unfortunately, the spotted lanternfly has spread beyond Eastern Pennsylvania into neighboring states including Delaware, New Jersey, and even Virginia.
Have you seen the spotted lanternfly in Pennsylvania? Share your experience in the comments! Soon, we’ll be turning our attention to the cold, snowy days of winter. Click here for the Old Farmers’ Almanac’s Predictions for Pennsylvania for winter 2019-2020.
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