Spotted lanternfly attacking in West Penn

Spotted lanternfly is here and a West Penn Township official is warning residents about it.

Supervisor Ted Bogosh said at last week’s board of supervisors meeting that the insects are killing the trees, some of which are over 100 years old.

“We have a very serious number of trees that are dead and dying,” Bogosh said. “They’re big and they’re all over our community.”

Bogosh said the spotted lanternfly is attacking grapes, fruit trees and pines, while the emerald ash borer kills ash trees and the gypsy moth attacks oak.

He said it is expected the ash trees will be removed.

Bogosh added that some residents have had trees fall along their power lines.

“This problem exists. It’s getting worse,” he said. “I don’t know what the short-term solution is.”

Bogosh urged landowners to be mindful of any older trees on their property.

“They’re going to fall across the roads,” he said.

Bogosh said the large barkless dead tree on Route 443 between Leiby’s and the river is an example of a tree that might fall across the road.

Susan Hyland, Master Gardener Coordinator, Penn State Cooperative Extension, acknowledged the issue.

“At this point, it is not throughout the state,” Hyland said. “It has been identified in 13 counties, and we are trying to hold it to that quarantined area.”

Hyland added, “Right now they are dormant. The eggs are out there attached to all kinds of things.”

“We have a great long list that’s really an eye-opener when we’re talking about seeking them out, and the way to destroy the eggs is to scrape them off the trees, rocks, fences, tarp, motorcycle,” she said.

Hyland said that because they are immobile, they are not easy to identify.

“We still have people out moving around, snowmobiling, fishing,” she said. “We are asking people to check for those eggs at this time of year to break them off and destroy them.”

Hyland noted that each female adult lays 30-50 eggs in a little patch, and as a result, “They’re not easy to identify.”

“Landowners, homeowners, we are encouraging to take that responsibility to identify and destroy and report in the (Schuylkill) county,” she said. “Our county is still charged with reporting any spotted lantern fly in any stage.”

Hyland said that for two years, it was only in Berks County.

“They’re not strong flyers, so we are expecting that they often are hitchhiking,” she said.

Hyland confirmed that spotted lanternfly have been located in four areas of Schuylkill County.

“They have crossed the line, and we’re out to get them,” she said.

Hyland said the reason why they are such a threat is that they feed by sucking the sap out of the plant. They will then jeopardize the health of the plant, which may or may not endure, she said.

Aside from the Ailanthus, Hyland said that the plants they seem to prefer are grapes, hops, perennial flowers, day lilies, and all kind of forestry.

“They like everything,” she said, adding that the spotted lanternfly has gone south, having been positively identified in Maryland and Delaware.

Hyland noted that the USDA has granted $17.5 million to the state to investigate and stop the spread and control and perhaps eliminate the insect.

The state Department of Agriculture has provided information signs to each municipality in the county to be mounted in a place where there’s some foot traffic, Hyland said.

“It is going to take everybody’s help understanding, and action to hold this at bay while science discovers how to bring it to a stop and eliminate the spotted lanternfly out of the state of Pennsylvania,” she said.