The state’s plant health inspectors look for a variety of pests as they review nursery stock to make sure anything coming into the state or leaving the state is pest-free, Holton said. Common hiding spots are wheel wells, front grills or anywhere on a camper or boat trailer. People traveling for vacations or to weekend getaways should check before and after each stop for spotted lanternflies or any bug that may be hitching a ride, Holton said. If they get out of Oakland County, they have the potential to decimate Michgian’s grape crops, valued at $30 billion annually. They will attack black walnut, river birch, willow, sumac, and red maple trees. “You could easily take it from one place to another if you’re not careful.” “Spotted lanternflies are what they call a good plant hopper,” said Jennifer Holton, MDARD’s communication director. (Photo courtesy of Emilie Swackhammer, Penn State University, .) Photo courtesy of Emilie Swackhammer, Penn State University, lanternflies may lay egg masses on vehicles, outdoor furniture or other items that can be transported to new areas, leading to new infestations. “You could unintentionally be bringing things up north and ruining your favorite spots,” Foreman said, adding that people should plan on buying firewood where they are vacationing, because carrying a pile of wood from one county to another is one of the easiest ways to expand an infestation. “Take a photo of that egg mass before you squish it,” she said.įoreman said checking vehicles at each stop on a trip is vital, whether you’re traveling 50 miles or three hours. Right now, people can help by finding the putty-like egg masses on tree trunks.įoreman said egg masses should be scraped from tree trunks and either burned or put into a sealable bag with alcohol or hand sanitizer and squished. Newborns are an all-black flying insect that morph into a black winged insect as a young nymph, then red, black and white as a late nymph to its adult look: gray wings with a red cast and black spots. Their looks change at almost every life stage. People should learn what a spotted lanternfly looks like, Foreman said, but that’s complicated. MSU is putting out traps to check for infestations beyond Oakland County. Report it.” Spotted lanternfly lifecycle as documented by Penn State College of Agriculture Sciences. Later this month, the state will launch an awareness campaign complete with billboards declaring: “See it. Joanne Foreman, spokeswoman for the invasive species program run by Michigan DNR, EGLE and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) said officials met last week with Michigan State University researchers and extension office officials to develop a strategy to stop the infestation.
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