It's time to squash spotted lanternfly eggs in New Jersey

By: Kyle Morel
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... New Jersey residents have become all too familiar with the scourge of the spotted lanternfly in recent years.
..... As the latest batch of eggs prepares to hatch in the spring, experts are once again urging the public to help control the spread of the invasive insect by squashing any adult and larvae they see.
..... Just like last year, [2023] all 21 New Jersey counties are under quarantine from the spotted lanternfly, according to the state Department of Agriculture. The advisory means any object capable of spreading the insect "cannot be moved without taking precautions to prevent that spread."
..... Lanternflies can lay eggs on any flat surface, meaning a wide range of potential locations for residents to inspect. Some of the most common include packing materials like boxes and wood creates; firewood, logs and other tree parts; and outdoor household items like vehicles, lawn chairs and tarps.
..... The insects typically lay 30 to 60 eggs that are coated with a "creamy white, putty like substance," according to the Sussex County office of Mosquito Control. The masses turn dark tan and begin to crack after a few weeks, often camouflaging into the surface they are on.
..... The protective layer helps the eggs survive from summer into fall. The insects then mate and lay new egg masses before winter comes, which the adults do not survive.
..... To get rid of lanternfly eggs, the Sussex County office recommends smashing masses or scraping them int a bag or container filled with rubbing alcohol on hand sanitizer. The public can also use special traps set up on trees to capture the insects after they hatch.
..... In January, [2024] the department of Agriculture announced available grant funding to help fight the lanternfly, spread through 2026. Counties can get reimbursed up to $50,000, and municipality up to $20,000, on a first-come, first-served basis for chemical treatment activities to combat the insects.
..... The department offered the same funding opportunity last year [2023] and is extending the time frame to allow regions experiencing the lanternfly threat for the first time to benefit.
..... "The more participants we have in the program increases the chances of significantly reducing the populations of this invasive pest," said Joe Atchison III, assistant secretary of the department.
..... The spotted lanternfly is harmless to people and pets but destructive top plants. It feeds on sap from at least 70 species, causing damage that can lead to disease and death of the affected plants, according to the agriculture department.
..... The insect is native to Asia and has no known natural predators in North America. It was first discovered in the United States a decade ago in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and has since spread to New Jersey and several other eastern states, including New York, Delaware and Connecticut.

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