South Central Pennsylvania homeowners should look out for the spotted lanternfly, (Lycorma delicatula), an insect invader from Asia. Spotted lanternflies were discovered in the U.S. in 2014 in Berks County, PA. They have been spreading westward ever since and were spotted in York County in 2019!
The spotted lanternfly feeds on the sap of a wide variety of plants, and in large numbers can damage or kill those plants.
The spotted lanternfly does not bite or sting people or pets, but poses a threat to Pennsylvania’s agricultural and timber industries, especially the grape growing industry. Spotted lanternflies can pester homeowners by damaging decorative plants or fruit trees and swarming in backyards.
To slow the spread of the spotted lanternfly, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has issued quarantine rules for 14 South Eastern Pennsylvania counties. The quarantine regulates the movement of plants and plant-based materials, outdoor objects and vehicles out of quarantined areas.
York, Adams, and Cumberland counties are currently outside the quarantine zone, but you should familiarize yourself with the appearance of the spotted lanternfly in all its life stages.
Homeowners can help by watching for spotted lanternflies and reporting them if seen. Spotted lanternflies can lay their eggs on just about anything, from tree trunks, to windshield wipers, to patio furniture. Spotting and removing them before they hatch in the spring is important.
Homeowners can also pre-treat or remove from their properties any of the spotted lanternfly’s favorite host plant, the Tree of Heaven.