May 17, 2016

Penn State Extension seeks volunteers in controlling spotted lanternfly

Penn State Extension is recruiting property owners to trap and destroy the spotted lanternfly in the quarantined areas of Berks, Bucks, Chester and Montgomery Counties. To participate, volunteers must own property with the preferred host Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven) trees.

Volunteers will place sticky bands on their trees to catch the insects, change the bands every two weeks from May through December, and add the results of their catch into an on-line database.

It will take an estimated 15 to 20 minutes of time to service a single band, count, and enter data. Five bands could take about an hour. Participants must also agree to properly dispose of the used sticky bands by scheduling pickup by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA).

Spotted lanternfly nymphs were observed in the quarantined area of eastern Berks County, Pennsylvania on May 12, 2016. The lanternfly, discovered in Eastern Berks County in 2014, poses a threat to crops.

To become a volunteer or for more information, email Emelie Swackhamer at [email protected] or call 610-391-9840. Please leave a phone number so we can reach you.

— Emelie Swackhamer, Penn State

Source: Penn State Extension