Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Expands Further Into Montgomery County

The invasive spotted lanternfly continues to strengthen its hold in Montgomery County, as several more municipalities have been added to the quarantine, which restricts movements of materials which could spread the pest.

Hatfield, Lower Providence, Lower Salford, Towamencin, and Lansdale are now all under quarantine, according to a late September announcement from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Additional quarantines were also announced in New Britain, Plumstead, and Chalfont in Bucks County, and West Vincent and Phoenixville in Chester County.

Nymph and adult spotted lanternflies cause extensive damage when they feed, sucking sap from stems and leaves and causing the plant to ooze and weep.

Not only does the plant die but the “fermented odor” caused by the feeding, along with the fluid excreted by the insects themselves, promotes mold growth and draws even more insects, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The roughly inch-long plant hopper is a native to China, India, and Vietnam.

There are 25 species of plants in Pennsylvania which the lanternfly has been known to feed off of. Click here for more details from the state Department of Agriculture.

Here is what they look like. (More images can be found here.)

In addition to ecological degradation, the lanternfly can have a significant economic impact. The bug threatens Pennsylvania's $20.5 million grape industry, $134 million apple industry, $24 million stone fruit industry, and $12 billion hardwood industry, agriculture officials said.

“Spotted Lanternfly can be devastating to apple and grape growers, and to our hardwood industry,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said in a statement. “It can also be an expensive nuisance for homeowners. It’s been three years since this pest was discovered in Pennsylvania – the first time it had been found in the U.S. We’ve worked closely with our partners in two other agencies, and the federal government and we’re engaging the public to help us identify and report sightings of this pest. The citizens who have responded to our outreach and reported sightings of the insect have been a tremendous help.”

Montgomery County residents who find spotted lanternflies are asked to take a photograph if possible, immediately destroy them, and then alert the State Department of Agriculture at (717) 787-4737.

Patch file photo