Learn How You Can Stop The Spotted Lanternfly In Solebury

SOLEBURY TOWNSHIP, PA — Want to learn more about you can fight back against the spotted lanternfly in the Solebury area?

An upcoming local event will address the devastating bug, its impact on local agriculture, businesses, and ecosystems, and what residents can do to help stop it.

Heather Kerr, a forester with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, will lead the discussion.

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.

The presentation will be held during the Solebury Environmental Advisory Council meeting, which is set for Tuesday, Oct 9, at 7 p.m.

Meetings are held at the Solebury Township Office, which is located on 3092 Sugan Road.

Patch file photo