PA Agriculture Dept Hosting Malvern Spotted Lanternfly Workshop

MALVERN, PA — We're all teaming up in the fight against the spotted lanternfly as it poses a great danger to Pennsylvania's agricultural industry. And to continue the fight, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is hosting s spotted lanternfly workshop in Malvern.

Michael Panuschka, a department of agriculture forester, will lead the workshop on Dec. 9.

The workshop will be held in Malvern Borough Hall, 1 E. First Ave., suite 3, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Attendees will learn about spotted lanternfly treatment, as well as treatment for its host tree, the "tree of heaven."

Informational pamphlets will be given to those in attendance to help continue spreading education about the invasive insect.

The Spotted Lanternfly was discovered in Berks County in 2014. It is native to China, India, Vietnam, and was also introduced to Korea where it has become a major pest.

This insect has the potential to greatly impact the stone fruit, grape, hops and logging industries. Damage to blueberries, basil, cucumbers and horseradish has also been observed.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is also working to minimize the movement of spotted lanternfly within the quarantine area, by deterring the movement of spotted lanternfly on materials, equipment, vehicles, and more from high population areas into areas with low to no populations.