By Kate Evans, The Morgan Messenger
BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — Residents should keep watching for signs of the invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) as the insect continues to expand its range and threaten fruit trees, hardwood trees and crops in many states, including West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The insect was first found in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014.
The spotted lanternfly was first sighted in Berkeley County in October 2019 and in Jefferson County in May 2021. The insect was first reported in Morgan County in September 2021.
Washington and Frederick Counties were added to the Maryland quarantine list for spotted lanternfly in January 2022. Washington, Frederick, Carroll and Baltimore Counties in Maryland and Baltimore City are considered heavily infested as of May 2024. Allegany and Montgomery County are moderately infested.
Winchester and northern Frederick County, Virginia and the state of Pennsylvania have huge populations of the insect.
Agriculture officials have deep concerns that if the insect is allowed to spread that it could severely impact the country’s grape orchards, fruit trees, plant nurseries, ornamental trees and forest industries.
States are asking for the public’s help in watching for the insect and stopping its spread.
In 17 states, 13 WV counties
Spotted lanternfly populations have currently been detected in these 17 states: Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Illinois, said James Watson, West Virginia Department of Agriculture Spotted Lanternfly Program Coordinator.
The insect has been confirmed in 13 West Virginia counties –Morgan, Berkeley, Jefferson, Hampshire, Mineral, Hardy, Grant, Monongalia, Taylor, Marshall, Ohio, Brooke and Hancock Counties as of November 2023.