HARRISBURG, Pa. — Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced six counties have been added to Pennsylvania’s spotted lanternfly quarantine zone ahead of the 2023 spring hatch.
With this addition, the quarantine for this invasive pest now includes 51 counties.
“Spotted lanternfly is an invasive pest that is disruptive and damaging to our agriculture commodities and a nuisance pest for all Pennsylvanians,” said Redding. “Through collective and intentional efforts, including instituting quarantine zones, we continue to slow the spread of this insect, and I call on all Pennsylvanians to assist. This time of year, before the eggs hatch in spring, do your part to help manage the pest by scraping egg masses and reporting where they are found. Each egg mass destroyed eliminates 30-50 lanternflies before they have an opportunity to hatch and spread.”
Spotted lanternflies have not been found throughout the entirety of each of the new six counties, but rather have been found only in a few municipalities. Butler, Clearfield, Clinton, Fayette, Lawrence, and Somerset counties are new to the quarantine for 2023.
“The purpose of expanding the quarantine is to raise awareness and slow the spread of the spotted lanternfly,” said Ruth Welliver, director of the department’s bureau of plant industry. “Thanks to an actively engaged community, and aggressive treatment and monitoring by the department of agriculture and our partners, we are limiting the spread and impact of this pest across the Commonwealth and are assisting our commodity growers in protecting their crops.”
Funds
Today, the department is also announcing opportunities for funding to help counties slow the spread of spotted lanternfly. Through the PA Farm Bill’s Rapid Response and Disaster Preparedness Fund, $150,000 will be available for grants for county conservation districts in Pennsylvania.
The department will award grants of up to $25,000 to assist conservation districts with activities designed to enhance spotted lanternfly quarantine compliance by businesses and residents of their county. The application period opens March 5 and closes April 7 at 5 p.m.
Learn more about this grant opportunity in the PA Bulletin, March 4.
Businesses that operate in or travel through quarantined counties are required to obtain a spotted lanternfly permit.
For information on spotted lanternfly, visit agriculture.pa.gov/spottedlanternfly. To report a sighting of spotted lanternfly, visit extension.psu.edu/have-you-seen-a-spotted-lanternfly.
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