Growing Spotted Lantern Fly Problems
The problem with spotted lantern flies has now spread from lower PA to Telford, East Rockhill, West Rockhill, Perkasie and Sellersville. More areas that were added to the quarantine areas were Springfield Township, Bucks County, and Muhlenberg Township. With these areas being under quarantine there is a restriction of movement of any material or object that could spread the pest throughout the rest of PA which includes firewood or any wood products, brush or yard waste, construction materials, outdoor household articles such as lawn mowers grills and tarps as well as trucks or any other vehicle not stored in doors. The black red and white pests were first spotted in Berks county in 2014 but have recently became on overgrowing population, just like stink bugs were last year, and are native to China, India, Japan, and Vietnam. The pests are attacking 25 plant species in Pennsylvania and they do great damage to not only trees but to crops that farmers grow too. They can feed on a variety of 70+ plants such as grapes, cherries, maples, stone fruits, and Tree of Heaven are preferred hosts. The Spotted Lantern Fly cannot fly very far but they can jump long distances and are pretty quick for the size that they are. The main way that the bugs spread through areas is not because they migrate but because we carry them places on cars or shipments and we may not even know we are doing it.
I think that the spotted lantern fly population growth is actually worse than what the stinkbugs brought. With these flies they bring a lot of destruction compared to the stink bugs who as far as my knowledge goes the only bad thing that the stink bugs did was stink up the house.
ReplyDeleteRegardless Sting Bugs and Lantern Flys are pests. Which are casing havoc from stinking up the house to killing off trees. Although I do agree with McGuire that stink bugs are not as bad, I do agree that Lantern Flys cause more havoc and should go back to wear they originated from. For they are destroying our ecosystem which is very important. Here's hoping that they begin to die off when the cold weather hits I sure do hate them they leave me running. Great Job on your article!
ReplyDeleteI find that the lantern flies are becoming worse and worse. I believe this because I have never seen them at our school before until this past week. They are also all over at my house on the trees and the trees are starting to die due to these insects.
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