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State Departments Issue Quarantine To Help Protect Against Spotted Lanternfly

The state Department of Agriculture and Markets is implementing new actions to protect New York and surrounding states from the establishment of the invasive spotted lanternfly.

The department, working in collaboration with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, issued a quarantine that will restrict the movement of certain goods brought into New York from Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia, states impacted by the spotted lanternfly. The first spotted lanternfly findings were reported earlier this month in New York state in Yates and Albany counties.

“The spotted lanternfly is a major concern for us when it comes to our agricultural crops and our forest land, so we can’t take any chances that this invasive species will become established here in New York state,” said Richard A. Ball, state agriculture commissioner. “The goal of the quarantine we have implemented is to help reduce the opportunities these pests may have in hitching a ride on firewood, plants and other common outdoor items and entering our state in the first place.”

The spotted lanternfly, which is known to do significant damage to agricultural crops as well as plant nurseries and the forest products industries, was first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014. Established populations of spotted lanternfly have since been found in New Jersey, Delaware and Virginia. Two cases of a single reported bug have been confirmed in New York. Given the proximity to the Pennsylvania and New Jersey infestations, state officials said New York state is at high risk for infestation. While the insects can jump and fly short distances, they spread primarily through human activity. Spotted lanternflies lay their eggs on any number of surfaces such as vehicles, stone, rusty metal, outdoor furniture and firewood. They can hitch rides on any outdoor item and be easily transported into and throughout New York.

“The newly designated exterior quarantine is part of the state’s aggressive effort to protect our natural resources from the destructive, invasive pest spotted lanternfly,” said Basil Seggos, state DEC commissioner. “If this insect becomes established in New York it would threaten our agricultural and tourism industries, including outdoor recreational activities. DEC will continue to work with our state and federal partners to prevent the introduction of this pest into New York state and do what we can to help educate and prepare communities for spotted lanternfly.”

The spotted lanternfly is a destructive pest that feeds on more than 70 plant species including tree-of-heaven, maples, apple trees, grapevine and hops. Spotted lanternfly feedings can stress plants, making them vulnerable to disease and attacks from other insects, and cause significant damage to New York’s agricultural industry. The spotted lanternfly also excretes large amounts of sticky “honeydew,” which attracts sooty molds that interfere with plant photosynthesis, negatively affecting the growth and fruit yield of plants. Spotted lanternfly also has the potential to significantly hinder quality of life due to the honeydew and the swarms of insects it attracts.

To help slow the spread of the spotted lanternfly into New York, the quarantine requires certificates of inspection issued from the impacted states on the following regulated articles entering New York state:

¯ Any living life stage of the spotted lanternfly.

¯ Brush, debris, bark, or yard waste.

¯ Landscaping, remodeling, or construction waste.

¯ Logs, stumps, or any tree parts.

¯ Firewood of any species.

¯ Packing materials, such as wood crates or boxes.

¯ All plants and plant parts, including but not limited to nursery stock, green lumber, fruit and produce and other material living, dead, cut, fallen (including stumps), roots, branches, mulch, and composted and uncomposted chips.

¯ Outdoor household articles, including, but not limited to, recreational vehicles, lawn tractors and mowers, mower decks, grills, grill and furniture covers, tarps, mobile homes, tile, stone, deck boards, mobile fire pits, and any equipment associated with these items, and trucks or vehicles not stored indoors.

¯ Any other article, commodity, item, or product that has or that is reasonably believed to be infested with or harboring SLF.

New York’s order requires travelers transporting any of the above items to have documentation listing the origin and destination of shipments. It also prohibits unnecessarily stops while traveling through the quarantine area. The state Department of Agriculture and Markets will operate compliance checks at strategic locations around the state to enforce the regulations.

The state’s quarantine order was developed in consultation with representatives from the forest products industry, including manufacturers and harvesters, and nurseries/landscapers, orchard and vineyard owners, and others potentially impacted by the restriction. New York also collaborated with other states where quarantines have been enacted to slow the spotted lanternfly spread.

The public is encouraged to continue to report any potential sightings of spotted lanternfly and to send a photo to spottedlanternfly@dec.ny.gov. Those who cite the spotted lanternfly should note the location of where the insect was found, egg masses, and/or infestation signs. The public is also encouraged to inspect outdoor items such as vehicles, furniture, and firewood for egg masses. Anyone that visits the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Virginia infested areas should thoroughly inspect their vehicle, luggage and gear for spotted lanternfly and egg masses before leaving and scrape off all egg masses.

A smartphone application is also available to help citizens and conservation professionals quickly and easily report new invasive species sightings directly to New York’s invasive species database from their phones. For more information, visit New York’s invasive species database.

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