Squash & report: Franklin among 8 counties added to Pa.'s spotted lanternfly quarantine zone

Franklin County is among eight counties around Pennsylvania to be added to the state's spotted lanternfly quarantine zone in preparation for the next hatch this spring.

Residents and businesses in the quarantine zone are expected to take steps to prevent the spread of these invasive pests and limit their impact on Pennsylvania’s economy and quality of life.

The spotted lanternfly, which is native to Asia and is known for the black spots on its wings, feeds on plants that are important to Pennsylvania's economy, including grapevine, maples, black walnut, birch and willow. An impact study found that if left uncontrolled, these insects could cost the state $324 million annually and 2,800 jobs.

The spotted lanternfly also produces a sugary waste that attracts bees and wasps. Build-up of this waste causes the growth of sooty mold and black-colored fungi.

With the addition of Franklin, Cambria, Cameron, Lackawanna, Montour, Pike, Wayne and Westmoreland counties, there are now 34 counties – more than half of the state – in the quarantine zone. The zone already included most of central and eastern Pennsylvania, as well as some counties in the west. 

The newly quarantined counties have a few municipalities with known infestations. In Franklin County, Antrim, Guilford and Greene townships and Greencastle borough are considered to have infestations, according to a Department of Agriculture map. 

“When we expand the quarantine, our goal is to slow the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly,” said Dr. Ruth Welliver, director of the department’s Bureau of Plant Industry. “And we have slowed it. Last spring we quarantined 12 counties with isolated infestations, and those counties have not been overrun because of the heightened awareness a quarantine brings. With continued aggressive treatment and monitoring, and an actively engaged community, we can help ensure families and businesses in these new counties aren’t inconvenienced by widespread infestation.”

The Department of Agriculture reported last summer that sightings of spotted lanternflies since January 2020 were up 500% compared to that same time period in 2019. 

What are the rules of the quarantine?

Residents and businesses must comply with quarantine regulations. 

It is considered a "serious offense" to move any stage of spotted lanternfly, from eggs to adults, according to the Department of Agriculture. Items harboring these pests also should not be moved, such as logs and tree stumps, landscaping, as well as outdoor household items such as mowers, grills and patio furniture. 

Anyone moving any outdoor item or material to another location inside or outside of the quarantine zone should check for the presence of spotted lanternflies of any stage. The Department of Agriculture website has a checklist with more information. People can also contact their local Penn State Extension office. 

Businesses operating within a quarantine zone that move products within the zone or from it are required to get a permit. Details are available at https://bit.ly/2OQV2bR.

“The Spotted Lanternfly is more than a pest in the literal sense,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “It’s wreaking havoc for home and business owners, kids who just want to play outside, Pennsylvania agriculture and the economy of the state we all call home. Whether you think it’s your job or not, we need every Pennsylvanian to keep their eyes peeled for signs of this bad bug – to scrape every egg mass, squash every bug, and report every sighting. We need to unite in our hatred for this pest for our common love: Pennsylvania.”

More:Municipalities take aim at invasive pests before they wreak havoc

'Lucky' the dog sniffs out spotted lanternfly eggs

Pennsylvania has implemented "quick, aggressive treatment" to newly identified populations of the spotted lanternfly with funding from the Farm Bill over the last two years. The 2021-22 version proposes another $3 billion to fight the pest. Since 2015, the Department of Agriculture has received more than $34 million to fight the spotted lanternfly. 

A dog, a female German shepherd named Lucky, has been trained to detect spotted lanternfly eggs, often in places people can't access. She is the first dog in the nation trained to detect this invasive pest, and helps to inspect businesses like nurseries, greenhouses, vehicle fleets and log yards.