spotted lanternfly

With the recent announcement made about spotted lanternfly yesterday by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), people may be seeking educational opportunities to learn more and stay to date on this new invasive species officially detected in Ohio. 

As we all learn more about the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect detected in North America in 2014 in eastern Pennsylvania, there are a lot of research being conducted to gain that knowledge. Today's BYGL Alert is a shared article from Penn State University via Penn State News on October, 7, 2020 on one such project that will be encouraging citizen scientists to participate and contribute their observations in the field. The media contact is Amy Duke from Penn State. 

We’re excited to announce the fall Emerald Ash Borer University lineup! This fall we will be hosting webinars on a wide range of topics on Thursdays at 11:00 AM ET. If you can’t attend the live webinar we will also post recordings. Sign up to watch the live webinars or be notified when the recordings are posted. Please share this announcement with anyone you think might be interested!

Recently, an Ohioan returned from a road trip to Pennsylvania. In addition to all the memories made, this traveler unintentionally brought back a hitch-hiker – a spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) (SLF). The individual quickly captured and ended the insect’s life before reaching out to his local Extension Educator. The suspect sample was submitted to the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) for confirmation based on the USDA protocol established to confirm non-native pests not currently established, or with limited presence in the case of Asian Longhorned beetle, in the state.

The spotted lanternfly (SLF) (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive planthopper first detected in eastern Pennsylvania in Berks County in 2014, and has since been detected in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. The map below was updated on August 14, 2020 and includes both individual finds of SLF with no infestation present (purple dots), and where SLF infestations are present (blue areas) - which means a reproducing population had been detected and multiple life-stages of the insect has been detected and confirmed. 

While the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) (SLF) has not been detected in Ohio, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), along with the Ohio State University (OSU) and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) are urging Ohioans to continue to be on the look-out for this invasive insect. Many are using the Great Lakes Early Detection Network (GLEDN) App to report tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), a favorite food or host for this plant hopper, especially as an adult, and then revisiting the tree looking for signs and symptoms of SLF throughout the year.

While the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) (SLF) has not been found in Ohio, the detection of the non-native invasive in Western Pennsylvania has people concerned. Ashley Kulhanek, OSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator in Medina County, and Jamie Dahl, Central State University Extension's Forest Outreach Coordinator, have co-authored a FactSheet, Be Alert for Spotted Lanternfly, ANR-83.

It seems like invasive species are all around us. We read about them in the paper, hear about them on the television, and see information about them on the web. This one-day workshop is designed to give you an update on what is happening in the world of invasive species and how can you help. 

It may be wise to be skeptical when hearing news that a native bio-ally is coming to our rescue in dealing with a non-native insect pest. Disappointments abound. Non-native juggernauts may steamroll because our native predators, parasitoids, and pathogens (the 3-Ps) just don't recognize them as a food source.

Last week, Emerald Ash Borer University (EABU) hosted a webinar on the Spotted Laternfly (Lycorma delicatula). The session has been recorded and is available online for viewing. The presentation is free, as well as other past EABU educational sessions.