Working Together

Cooperation means working together. This post is about the Pennsylvania Cooperative Extension

working with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and ordinary citizens.

If you live in Earl Township, Douglass Township, Pike Township or a few other areas found mostly in Berks County you may have seen some trees with brown paper wrapped around them.

Sticky trap on Tree of Heaven

These are to try and contain a group of insects from spreading into the rest of Pennsylvania.

Spotted Lantern Fly Adult

The Spotted Lantern Fly is an insect that enjoys the sap from several types of trees and it can be harmful to some commodities in Pennsylvania.  The grape growers and apple and peach growers are concerned because it can hurt their vines and trees. It also is damaging to some hardwoods.

The traps are mainly to trap the young insects before they get to the adult stage and lay eggs.
This insect is an invasive species from Asia and its favorite tree is another invasive species that has been around for a long time, also from Asia. The Spotted Lantern Fly has only been in PA for a few years. Imagine going on a long trip and seeing one of your favorite restaurants, wouldn't you want to stop for a meal?

Taking down the trap for disposal.

Every two weeks the trap is to removed, the invasive insects counted and a new trap put up.
If you see this insect on your property please inform the PA Dept. of Ag or Penn State Cooperative Extension. We don't want this to spread but it takes many hands to solve this problem.