With the spring season nearing, state agriculture officials are warning residents about the return of the invasive spotted lanternfly.
Spotted Lanternflies were originally located in Berks County in 2014, but have made their way into the western part over the past couple of years, including Indiana and Westmoreland Counties. Both were added to the Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine last year, and six more counties were added for 2023.
Despite being in the quarantined zone, Bob Pollock from the Penn State Extension said no reports of spotted lanternflies have been made in Indiana County this year.
Spotted lanternflies are generally harmless to humans but can destroy crops, like grape vines and fruit trees. Officials say the best way to combat them is to destroy them while they’re young and in their nymph stage.
More information on lanternflies can be found on the Department of Agriculture’s website.
