Quarantine Zone For Spotted Lanternfly Pest Grows To 17 MD Counties Plus Baltimore City

MARYLAND — The invasive pest known as the spotted lanternfly — which can devour crops like grapes and hops and devastate maple and walnut trees — continues to spread and state officials have expanded a quarantine zone for 2023.

Last year, the quarantine included 10 counties plus the city of Baltimore.

On Monday, the Maryland Department of Agriculture expanded its spotted lanternfly quarantine to include a total of 17 counties and the city of Baltimore. Those jurisdictions are: Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Washington and Wicomico counties, as well as Baltimore City.

The quarantine is effective immediately, and restricts the movement of regulated materials that might contain the spotted lanternfly in any of its life stages, including egg masses, nymphs, and adults.

“The spotted lanternfly continues to be a destructive invasive species that has negatively impacted agriculture operations throughout the mid-Atlantic region,” said MDA Secretary Kevin Atticks in a news release. “The department continues to take steps to expand the quarantine zone out of an abundance of caution as we remain vigilant in controlling the spread of this destructive insect.”

Examples of regulated articles under the quarantine order include landscaping, remodeling, or construction waste; packing materials like wood boxes or crates; plants and plant parts; vehicles; and other outdoor items.

In Maryland, spotted lanternflies have been reported since 2018 in Cecil County. The pest has spread to Harford County, and smaller populations have also been found in Baltimore City, and Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne, Wicomico, and Washington counties.

A quarantine order first issued by the secretary of agriculture three years ago for Harford and Cecil counties is still in effect, and was expanded in 2022 to include: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Kent, Montgomery and Washington counties, as well as Baltimore City.

A map of the new quarantine zone is on the state agriculture's site.

Businesses, municipalities, and government agencies that move any regulated item within or from the quarantine zone must have a specialized permit. The permit may be obtained by taking a free online training course and exam through PennState Extension.

All spotted lanternfly permits for Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware are transferable and valid throughout the region, the ag department said.

The spotted lanternfly poses a major threat to the region’s agricultural industries as it feeds on over 70 different types of crops and plants, including grapes, hops, apples, peaches, oak, pine, and many others, authorities said. Their favorite plant to feed on is the tree of heaven.

Originally from Asia, the spotted lanternfly was first detected in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in fall 2014. As a known hitchhiker, the spotted lanternfly has also spread to Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia.

Spotted lanternfly sightings may be reported through the state department of agriculture’s online survey. Other informational materials are available on the program’s website.

How To Identify Spotted Lanternfly Eggs

The egg masses are about 1 inch in size and contain 30-50 eggs. Eighty to 90 percent of egg masses on trees are found 10 feet above the ground or higher, officials say.

Egg masses are easy to identify and should be scraped off. Use a putty knife, credit card, or other firm, blunt-edged tool to scrape. A tutorial on this process is here, courtesy of Penn State Extension.

Spotted lanternflies often lay their eggs on flat surfaces, such as tree bark, rocks, lawn furniture, firewood, boats, RVs, pallets or anything left outdoors, which can be transported to new locations.

Freshly laid egg masses have a light-gray, mud-like covering, while older egg masses change in color to a light tan, resembling cracked mud. Hatched egg masses lose the mud-like covering, exposing individual eggs that look similar to seeds.

Here are more things to know about spotted lanternflies:

Although lanternflies usually do not kill plants, they suck out sugars that significantly weaken their hosts and leave behind massive amounts of honeydew — that is, excrement — which is typical of the true bug order Hemiptera.

The honeydew can attract other insects, including wasps, ants and bees, and also cause a sooty mold to grow on the plant, interfering with its ability to photosynthesize and create the energy it needs to survive and grow.