HONESDALE (Sept. 11, 2018) – With the invader on the doorstep, the Penn State Cooperative Extension hosts an informational program on the Spotted Lanternfly Oct. 10 with expert horticulturalist Emelie Swackhamer, an extension educator from Montgomery County.
Since it was first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014, the Spotted Lanternfly has spread to 13 counties, including Monroe, Wayne County’s neighbor to the south. Those 13 counties are under quarantine and residents can learn ways they can help prevent the spread of this new threat.
Swackhamer will offer a presentation and a question-and-answer session Oct. 10 from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Park Street Complex in Honesdale. She holds a B.S. degree in Plant Science from The Pennsylvania State University and a M.S. in Plant Pathology from the North Carolina State University.
The quarantine restricts the movements of any living life stage of the pest, but the insect’s egg masses pose the greatest threat, in terms of spreading the pest into other areas. That’s because the female Spotted Lanternfly lays her egg masses, with 30 to 50 eggs in each, on adult host trees, moderately sized stones, and just about any other smooth outdoor surface such as lawn furniture, stone and brick work, outdoor recreational vehicles and gas grills.
To move these items outside the quarantine areas, homeowners need to complete a checklist to show they have checked for the presence of the pest.
Businesses, municipalities and government agencies in the quarantine zone can obtain a permit for compliance after completing a free training course, which is available online.
The Oct. 10 program is free, and will cover how to identify the Spotted Lanternfly, learn about the impact to local industry and communities and the actions you can take to help stop the spread. You can register online.
For more information visit the Penn State Spotted Lanternfly web page.