PIKE COUNTY, PA — As of 2021, the spotted lanternfly (SLF) is officially in Pike County. Pike is now included in the quarantine map compiled and released by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

So this summer you could see more spotted lanternflies on your property and in your communities than ever before.  

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive species that was first identified in the U.S. in 2014, in Allentown. It feeds on over 70 species of plants, including grapevines, maples, black walnut and other important plants.

There is currently no chemical treatment for SLF infestations, and the best control method is to manually crush the insect when you see one.

You should also ensure you aren’t transporting the lanternflies; check vehicles traveling out of the quarantine area for SLF eggs, nymphs or adults. Adult spotted lanternflies are particularly good at sticking to vehicles, and use highways and major travel corridors to move quickly into new ecosystems and habitats.

Use traps on trees you want to save.

Businesses that require regular travel out of the quarantine areas need permits for their vehicles. To learn more about business regulations, visit extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly-management-guide.

To control the insect in its nymphal stage, the Pike County Conservation District (PCCD) has received grant funding for the purchase and installation of 26 spotted lanternfly circle traps to be distributed in Pike County’s municipal parks. A trap has also been installed behind the conservation district, and in front of the Pike County Penn State extension office in Milford.

The circle trap collects the nymphs as they move up the tree to which the trap is attached. The insects are funneled into a collection container, which allows for easy destruction and disposal of many spotted lanternfly nymphs. To learn more about the circle trap, how it works and how to make your own, visit extension.psu.edu/circle-trap-works-to-destroy-spotted-lanternflies-says-extension-educator.

For now, the best control of the SLF is to squash it at any life stage, trap it and report it to Penn State Extension at  extension.psu.edu/have-you-seen-a-spotted-lanternfly.

For educational materials or readings on the SLF, visit  pikeconservation.org/spotted-lanternfly, or call the Pike County Conservation District at 570/226-8220.