Trumbull Library To Host Expert Talk On Spotted Lanternfly

TRUMBULL, CT — The Trumbull Library will host a presentation on the spotted lanternfly later this month to help residents "better understand this fast-spreading pest."

According to a news release provided by the library, the spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect first detected in the United States in 2014 that has rapidly spread across Connecticut.

Often seen on trees, patios, vehicles and outdoor furniture, the insect poses a growing threat to local ecosystems, agriculture and backyard landscapes, according to the library.

To help residents better understand this fast-spreading pest and learn how they can help slow its impact, the library will host an in-person presentation, titled "The Spotted Lanternfly: Connecticut's Uninvited Guest," on Feb. 18 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the library's community room.

The program is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged through the library's website.

According to the library, the program will be led by Gale Ridge, Ph.D., director of the Insect Information Office at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven and one of the nation's leading entomologists.

Ridge will explain how the spotted lanternfly arrived in the United States, why it has been able to spread so quickly and what makes Connecticut particularly vulnerable to infestation, according to the library.

During the presentation, Ridge will walk attendees through the lanternfly's life cycle: from egg masses that overwinter on most any surface, to springtime nymphs to the easily recognizable adult stage seen in late summer and fall, according to the library.

Ridge will also share practical, science-based guidance on how residents can identify lanternflies at every stage, safely remove egg masses and take simple steps to prevent unintentionally spreading the insect on vehicles, outdoor equipment or firewood, according to the library.

The library also noted Ridge directs statewide efforts in insect identification, pest management and public education through the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.

A nationally recognized expert on invasive insects and public health, she serves on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's scientific advisory panel for pesticide research and teaches at the Frank H. Netter School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University.

She is also a frequent speaker on emerging insect threats affecting communities across the region, according to the library.