Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Could Expand To All Of NJ

NEW JERSEY — All New Jersey residents may soon share something in common: life in a spotted lanternfly quarantine zone. State agricultural officials proposed regulations Monday that would expand the state's quarantine area for the invasive species from 13 counties, to all of them.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) urges residents in quarantine areas to check for signs of spotted lanternflies before transporting outdoor items, such as building materials, gardening tools and children's playthings. Here's the state's checklist.

Additionally, businesses and organizations in quarantine zones need permits to move vehicles, equipment and other items within and out of the zone. The spotted lanternfly is a hitchhiker, and its ability to stick to vehicles and other objects on the move has allowed the invasive species to spread within the United States.

Spotted lanternflies are in their adult stage. From September through December, they lay masses of 30-50 eggs. While the adults don't survive the winter, the egg masses do. Read more: Spotted Lanternfly Leaving Egg Masses Around NJ: What Residents Can Do

While spotted lanternflies don't harm animals or humans, they can reduce the quality of life for people in heavily infested areas, according to the NJDA. The insect feeds on the sap of many plants important to New Jersey, including grapevines, maples and black walnut.

When they feed, they excrete honeydew, which can attract bees, wasps and other insects. The substance also builds up and promotes the growth of sooty mold, which can cover plants, forest understories, patio furniture, cars and other surfaces. Find more spotted lanternfly info.

In the proposal, state agricultural officials warned that the spotted lanternfly's unabated spread would "seriously threaten (New Jersey's) agricultural industries and the environment" and related industries throughout the nation.

"The purpose of the quarantine, and this rulemaking," the proposal says, "is to minimize the environmental and economic damage to the nursery, horticultural, fruit, vegetable, orchard, and viticulture industries that will be severely affected by infestations, along with reducing the nuisance of honeydew excretions affecting the public wellbeing, as well as the spread of this invasive species to other states."

Thirteen New Jersey counties are quarantined:

• Burlington
• Camden
• Essex
• Gloucester
• Hunterdon
• Mercer
• Middlesex
• Monmouth
• Morris
• Salem
• Somerset
• Union
• Warren

Spotted lanternfly infestations would negatively impact New Jersey's $1.1 billion agricultural industry, according to the proposal. They've already done similar damage one state over, according to officials.

"While exact numbers on how much the Spotted Lanternfly has negatively affected Pennsylvania crops and/or nursery stock are still being compiled and not available," the proposal says, "it is reported that there has been a significant impact on the agricultural and logging industries within the Commonwealth."

The public can submit written comments about the proposal by Dec. 2 by emailing pr-plantindustry@ag.nj.gov or sending them to:

Joseph Zoltowski, Director
Division of Plant Industry
New Jersey Department of Agriculture
PO Box 330
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0330

Once the commenting period ends, the agency can adopt the proposed changes.

New Jersey's first confirmed spotted lanternfly sighting came in July 2018 in Warren County. The critter has since spread to all of the state's counties. State agricultural officials estimate that the spotted lanternfly's New Jersey population was likely close to last year's. But they become more visible this year with the adults reaching parts of the Jersey Shore. Read more: Spotted Lanternflies Invade The Jersey Shore: State Officials

But it's hard to say whether some parts of New Jersey have more spotted lanternflies than others, according to the NJDA. Eighteen NJDA staff and 14 employees from the U.S. Department of Agriculture focus on high-priority areas such as seaports, airports, railway lines, railyards and high-volume shipping operations, state officials told Patch on Sept. 20.

The focus on transportation and shipping hubs allows New Jersey to reduce the spotted lanternfly's movement throughout and out of the state, according to the NJDA.

See the proposed rules below: