'It's Wreaking Havoc': PA Expands Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine

PENNSYLVANIA — As the war against the scourge of spotted lanternflies continues, Pennsylvania has expanded its quarantine zone to include 12 new counties.

The decision, made ahead of the spring hatch of the invasive pests, is aimed at restricting the movement of materials that could spread the pest. The bug is an environmental and economic catastrophe, decimating crucial ecosystems in addition to some of the state's most highly valuable products including grapes, apples, stone fruit, and hardwood.

“The Spotted Lanternfly is more than a pest in the literal sense,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said in a statement. "It’s wreaking havoc for home and business owners, kids who just want to play outside, Pennsylvania agriculture, and the economy of the state we all call home."

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For businesses, the quarantine means that if they wish to operate in or travel through these counties, they must obtain a specific spotted lanternfly permit. Those who do not abide by the quarantine can face criminal citation and up to a $20,000 fine.

The newly added quarantined counties are Allegheny, Beaver, Blair, Columbia, Cumberland, Huntingdon, Juniata, Luzerne, Mifflin, Northumberland, Perry, and York. That's in addition to the 14 already under quarantine, bringing the total to 26 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties.

The newly added counties are not fully infested, but rather have a few areas which the pests frequent. With the help of the quarantine, aggressive treatment, and close monitoring of impacted areas, scientists are hopeful the the lanternfly can be fully removed from those areas.

Citizens can play a huge role in helping to battle back against the inch-long planthopper. That is especially true as winter turns to spring, and the bug's distinctive egg masses are visible on trees.

"Whether you think it’s your job or not, we need every Pennsylvanian to keep their eyes peeled for signs of this bad bug – to scrape every egg mass, squash every bug, and report every sighting," Redding added. "We need to unite over our hatred for this pest for our common love: Pennsylvania."

If the insect, which kills a wide variety of trees and plants when it feeds, spreads into counties adjacent to where it is already established and across the state, the worst-case scenario is startling: a $324.9 million hit per year to the Pennsylvania economy and the loss of 2,810 jobs.

The state has recently announced an additional $3 million investment to fight the bug in the proposed 2020 Farm Bill.