VA Quarantine For Spotted Lanternfly Begins In 2 Communities

VIRGINIA — A bug that has already made its way into Virginia has the potential to devastate the state's wine industry, which prompted a quarantine in two communities recently. The spotted lanternfly was first detected in Virginia in January 2018. Virginia Cooperative Extension calls it an invasive planthopper that has the potential to be a serious pest of agriculture and home gardens across the Commonwealth.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on May 28 announced a spotted lanternfly quarantine for Frederick County and the city of Winchester. The goal of the quarantine is to slow the spread of the spotted lanternfly to uninfested areas of the Commonwealth.

Experts say the pest feeds on more than 70 plant species, including grapes, apples, stone fruits, hops and Ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven), which is its preferred host. It poses a threat to Virginia’s peach, apple, grape and wine industries, says VDACS.

State inspectors discovered the spotted lanternfly at a stone yard in Frederick County near Winchester in January 2018. Before it was detected in Virginia, the only spotted lanternfly found in the U.S. was in Pennsylvania. Populations are now established in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and northern Virginia.

The quarantine requires businesses to obtain a permit from VDACS and inspect articles that are considered a risk for movement of the pest to conduct an inspection when moving out of the quarantined area. Items considered to be at risk of contamination include plants, lumber, firewood, industrial or construction materials and equipment, stone, shipping containers (for example, wood crates or boxes), outdoor household articles (examples: grills, mowers and outdoor furniture), recreational vehicles and any means of transportation.

The insect is native to China, India and Vietnam, and feeds on more grapes, stone fruits, hops and Ailanthus (Tree of Heaven), among other plants. The insect causes damage to plants because of its method of feeding, the rapid buildup of large populations and the production of a fluid with a fermented odor that's a by-product of its feeding, which promotes mold growth and draws even more insects, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Officials say early detection is vital to managing the spotted lanternfly. Northern Virginia residents are asked to:

• Learn to identify spotted lanternfly in its different life stages.
• Look for spotted lanternfly egg masses from now to early spring by checking tree trunks, wheel wells, lawn furniture, fences, storage sheds, rocks and other smooth surfaces.
• Destroy the egg masses by scrapping them from tree bark or any other surface and putting them in a container, such as a bag, filled with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer. The egg masses can also be smashed.
• Learn to identify Tree of Heaven from other look-alike trees and remove female trees from your yard, using best-management practices (BMP) to avoid clone reproduction.
• Share information about the pest with your family, friends, and others in your network to help raise awareness about the threat and what people can do to help stop the spotted lanternfly.
• Report sightings of spotted lanternflies and their egg masses to your nearest Extension Service office.