CAI-NJ December 2021

By Rick Close, Davey Tree Expert Company

arlutz73/iStock/Getty Images Plus

When a non-native insect pest, such as the SLF, is released into a new area, it will arrive without its natural enemies and the population can explode...

es that’s right! Our trees and our quality of life here in New Jersey are being attacked by yet another invasive insect pest – curiously named the Spotted Lanternfly (acronym - SLF). Just so we understand what this means, insect pests are considered “Invasive” when they are introduced to an area where they are not known to occur, and for us in the Garden State, the Spotted Lanternfly has never been found in our natu- ral environment until now. When a non-native insect pest, such as the SLF, is released into a new area, it will arrive without its natural enemies and the population can explode without anything standing in the way. The SLF is native to countries in Asia including China, India, and Vietnam, but was accidently carried to America on quarry rock and escaped in 2014 in Berks County, PA – near Philadelphia. It is now spreading quickly throughout the mid-Atlantic states including our state of New Jersey.

Since initially being found in Warren County in 2018, eight (8) counties in New Jersey are under quarantine . The winged pests have also been spotted in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia. Despite its large wings, spotted lanternfly is often thought of as the “hitchhiker bug” since its flying abilities are limited. They hop, glide and travel by attaching themselves to cars, trucks and trains. With no known predators in the US, the spotted lanternfly’s growth remains virtually unchecked despite efforts by the various states’ departments of agriculture. CONT I NU E S ON PAGE 50

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