“We have been working diligently to slow the advance of this bug,” Douglas Fisher, department secretary, said in the statement. It’s believed to have traveled from China to Pennsylvania by hitching a ride on a shipment. The spotted lanternfly is an “excellent hitchhiker” known for its ability to travel quickly by clinging onto vehicles. Residents of the quarantined counties – Warren, Hunterdon, Mercer, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem and Somerset – are urged to inspect their cars for the bug before leaving, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture said in a statement on August 12. Always consult a professional tree expert for advice before taking any steps to spray or have a tree injected.'Zombie cicadas' under the influence of a mind controlling fungus have returned to West Virginia Once the insects hatch, from April to June, the best options are squishing them or using chemical sprays. How Can I Control SLF Populations?įrom November through March, check trees scrape and destroy egg masses. However, in the US there is a lack of natural predators, as well as an abundance of preferred host plants, allowing their populations to reach unprecedented levels. Within their native areas, predators keep these pests under control. Since then, the insect has spread from Pennsylvania to New Jersey and far beyond, and is still on the move. The spotted lanternfly is native to China, India and Vietnam and was introduced to the Eastern United States in September 2014. Use our management decision guide to determine which actions are best to take. Manage SLF on your property by promoting plant health, scraping eggs, using traps, and using chemical control when appropriate.Slow the spread of SLF by checking your car and any outdoor equipment (outdoor furniture, mowers, firewood, etc.) when going in and out of the quarantine zone.Death has only been noted in tree saplings, tree-of-heaven, and grapevines. Some plants are at more risk than others (e.g., grapevines, maple, black walnut). SLF is a plant stressor that, in combination with other stressors (e.g., other insects, diseases, weather), can cause significant damage to its host.SLF is currently under quarantine in 34 counties in Pennsylvania, in addition to several other states.SLF is an invasive pest that feeds on a large variety of plant species, including those in the agricultural, timber, and ornamental industries, and backyard plants.(from PennState Extension: Spotted Lanternfly Management Guide) Those surfaces will eventually be covered in a black sooty mold, further damaging the plant or tree, which can attract other insects such as bees and the honeydew can also cause mold to grow. In addition to the damage they cause by sucking sap from the leaves and stems of the plants, spotted lanternflies excrete honeydew, a sticky substance that spreads over anything underneath the attacked plant or tree. These pests are known to feed off of 70 different plant species, such as wood trees, vegetables, and fruit trees. Once attached, they hitchhike along to different locations, increasing their population along the way. While the spotted lanternfly doesn’t harm animals or humans, it can cause harm to the plants on which it feeds.Ĭonsidered a plant hopper because they can only fly a few feet at a time, spotted lanternflies are adept at attaching themselves to - or laying their eggs on - everything from cars to backpacks, camping equipment to gardening tools, building materials to children's playthings. The next generation of crop-destroying spotted lanternflies has taken hold in New Jersey, with the colorful and eye-catching bugs now found nearly everywhere in the state.
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