By Stephen Smoot
They may be breathtakingly beautiful in their adult form but according to the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, the spotted lantern fly, as well as other flying invasive species, spread pure ugliness in their wake.
Spotted lantern flies are easy to spot. Their brilliant colors are similar to those seen in the Maryland State flag. The pests first established themselves in eastern Pennsylvania through accidental introduction and have spread from there since 2019.
“The spotted lantern fly causes issues with both agriculture and forestry,” states James Watson from the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. He added that the pests live by sucking sap from plants and out of certain trees, specifically the maple and black walnut trees used by many local landowners to produce syrup and other related products. They also target apple, cherry, plum, and peach trees and can devastate grape vineyards.
Watson advised that “one of the best ways of reducing numbers is to identify and treat with herbicide their preferred host, another invasive species called the tree of heaven.” He explained that these trees boost populations of the spotted lantern fly, forcing them to subsist on vegetation more important to affected agricultural producers.
He also said that “there’s an aesthetic component to a spotted lantern fly infestation as well.” Watson described how swarms of them near residences and businesses will leave “lots of excrement,” which attracts a “black sooty mold,” but will not directly harm humans or pets.
Scott Hoffman, from the New Creek office of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, reports that they are well established in Jefferson and Berkeley counties and spreading into Morgan, Hardy, Hampshire, and eastern Mineral counties currently. Hoffman explains also that “they like to hitchhike on vehicles,” and “we cannot detect them.”
Though none have been officially seen in Pendleton County yet, Hoffman says “they’re a big nuisance” anywhere they can get established. The West Virginia Department of Agriculture requests that if anyone sees a spotted lantern fly in the wild, to photograph it, record any details such as location, visible damage, etc., and send the information to bugbusters@wvda.us. The state also works with the USDA APHIS program to slow the spread as much as possible.
Unfortunately, the state lacks money and staff to aggressively attack the spotted lantern fly problem. Being proactive with seeking out and destroying trees of heaven before they arrive in large numbers could also help to minimize the potential impact if or when spotted lantern flies make their way across the Hardy County line.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture also is seeking out participants for its program to attack the problem of the pest commonly called the gypsy moth, but referred to by government agencies as the “spongy moth.”
Government agencies changed the pest’s nomenclature due to concerns over the word “gypsy,” historically used as a slur against the Romani people of Eastern Europe.
This pest has a long and destructive history in West Virginia and other parts of the nation. Adult gypsy moths were first trapped in the United States in 1972 with the first caterpillar seen in 1978.
Many may remember several years ago when swarms of gypsy moths left mountain ridges bare of foliage in summertime. Since then, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture has worked diligently to protect state forests from infestations of gypsy moths.
The state uses two treatments to protect trees against the destruction of gypsy moths. One uses a fungus and the other a virus. Hoffman explains that they “reduce the population and cause it to collapse, so it’s not as much of a problem now.”
From now until Aug. 31, landowners can register to have a gypsy moth egg mass survey done on their property. While there is a 50-acre minimum, landowners can combine together to request a survey. The WVDA requests a $1 per acre deposit with a maximum of $500. The deposit is non refundable, but can be applied to the cost of the treatment. Properties with at least 500 egg masses per acre qualify and treatments should be effective up to 1,000 to 1,200 masses per acre.
Landowners can have one of two possible treatments. Mimic will cost property owners $13 per acre. BT treatments will cost $17 an acre. This year the state pays half the cost, but this cost sharing changes from year to year.
Once the WVDA completes the survey, the property owner receives a letter, a contract, and a deposit invoice that they can return if they choose to treat. Treatments will take place in the following year. Some wait until the spring to request help. Only in severe cases can the state help at that point.
