APHIS provides an update on spotted lanternfly activities

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) provides this update of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula, SLF) locations in Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. This invasive pest feeds on more than 70 types of plants including crops such as grapes, apples, hops, walnuts, and other hardwood trees, and sucks sap from stems and leaves, causing damage to plants as they feed. APHIS and state cooperators continue to work together to assess the affected areas in the states, and to implement a cooperative response program that detects, contains, and suppresses SLF populations.

During 2018, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) and APHIS confirmed a small SLF population in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. In addition to Dauphin County, SLF populations remain in all or portions of 13 other counties (Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, and Schuylkill) in the State. APHIS and PDA continue to treat populations in support of the containment and suppression strategy for SLF.

Currently, Winchester City and Frederick County, Virginia remain the only known infested areas in Virginia. APHIS continues to work with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) to treat the infested area in support of containing SLF. APHIS and VDASCS continue to perform intensive survey work throughout the State.

Since June 2018, APHIS and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) have confirmed populations of SLF in five counties (Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, and Somerset), including previously reported counties of Warren, Mercer, and Hunterdon in the State. APHIS and NJDA continue to perform treatment and survey to contain and suppress SLF.

Since August 2018, APHIS and the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) have confirmed populations of SLF in Northern New Castle County, Delaware. APHIS and DDA continue to treat the SLF population in portions of the County and perform survey work in the remaining portions of the state.

In October 2018, APHIS and the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) confirmed an adult SLF population in Cecil County, Maryland. PPQ and MDA continue to delimit this small infestation and establish treatments in support of the containment and suppression strategy.

In 2019, APHIS added emergency funding to support North Carolina’s survey for SLF. In addition, APHIS continues to provide emergency funding to monitor, detect, and treat new outbreaks in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

A coordinated response effort between federal, state, industry, and the public is necessary to protect crops, forests, and residential landscapes from this invasive pest. APHIS continues to coordinate area-wide responses with the States’ Departments of Agriculture. The affected states are also in the process of deploying a pest management strategy that includes surveillance, treatment and control, and outreach activities to reduce the population and spread of SLF.

For additional information about the SLF program, you may contact National Policy Manager John Crowe at 301-851-2108 or John.F.Crowe@usda.gov.