By Carrie Carmenatty
Following a report from an alert town of Romulus resident, Ag and Markets inspectors traveled to the infestation site, where they were able to confirm the presence of SLF nymphs.
The first SLF in the U.S. were confirmed in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014 and were believed to be transported with a shipment of stone from Asia. The pests are hitchhikers and easily introduced to new areas through human activity. The New York City Metropolitan area, Long Island and the Hudson Valley saw record numbers of the pest last summer and are expected to see large populations again this year. Sightings have also been reported in Buffalo, Syracuse and Ithaca, but this week’s discovery marked the first time SLF has been discovered in the Finger Lakes grape-growing region.
SLF are a potential economic and lifestyle pest for homeowners, businesses, tourism, and agriculture. Adult lanternfly feed in swarms and excrete a sticky substance called honeydew, which results in sooty mold growth and attracts other insects. The pests are particularly attracted to vineyards and if left unchecked have the potential to distress the wine and juice grape industry.