OCEAN CITY — No doubt about it; the spotted lanternflies have reached the beach.
One landed on a beach blanket Saturday in Ocean City before it was killed with a steel water bottle and unceremoniously buried in the sand.
Others were found floating in a pool near the Boardwalk on Sunday.
New Jersey's Department of Agriculture wants people to kill them on sight.
The insects are both beautiful and invasive, spreading rapidly throughout the Northeast since first being discovered in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014.
Since then, they have spread steadily and inexorably across multiple states. This month, a 4-H student made national headlines when he showed one at the Kansas State Fair, farther West than the bugs were known to be.
People are also reading…
New Jersey's Department of Agriculture recorded 10,000 emails and phone calls in August regarding the lanternfly after setting up an online reporting system, Agriculture Secretary Douglas H. Fisher said.
“Using the website form allows us to pinpoint where high populations of this insect are and to prioritize treatment areas by NJDA and USDA staff,” said Fisher, who said the calls and tips are helping state and federal agencies focus their efforts.
The state has deployed 20 two-person crews to treat high-infestation areas but can't respond to all the calls, the NJDA said Tuesday in a news release.
The lanternflies have delicate pale gray wings with black spots. If they spread their wings, a bright red section can be seen, also with black spots. They were first found in New Jersey in 2018 and quickly spread to every county.
In August, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture added five counties to a quarantine zone, meaning those moving horticultural products or other material should check to make sure no egg cases, nymphs or adults are attached.
At one time, the infestation was limited to a few counties in New Jersey. That is no longer the case.
“It’s entirely possible that they are in every county,” said Jeff Wolfe, a spokesman for the NJDA.
A map posted to the Department of Agriculture’s website shows eight counties along the Delaware River and Bay in red, the quarantine counties running from Warren to Salem counties.
Those with confirmed populations of spotted lanternflies are shown in blue, with only Cape May County showing white.
That may change after the sightings this weekend.
The insects are not strong fliers, only making short trips of a few feet at most. But they can catch a ride with the best of them, Wolfe said Monday.
“They are excellent, excellent hitchhikers on almost any kind of transportation,” he said. They catch rides on cars and trucks, on produce or on other products, and quickly make themselves at home. “That’s their primary way of spreading.”
The bugs originated in Asia. They won’t hurt people, but they have the potential to do severe damage to agriculture. Within a few years of first being seen in the United States, lanternflies have reached nine states.
The consensus among area naturalists is that spotted lanternflies should be killed on sight.
“Our main thing is: If you can see it and you can stomp on it and kill it, do it,” Wolfe said.
People can also report sightings at badbug.nj.gov, where there are also tips on how to control the spread as well as images of spotted lanternflies in various stages of their life cycles.
There is also information on other invasive species, including the emerald ash borer and gypsy moths.
Adult spotted lanternflies will not survive most New Jersey winters, likely dying off with the first deep freeze. But this time of year, they are laying eggs that will hatch next spring. That’s when New Jersey will have a better idea of just how widespread the invasion has become.
Mercer, Hunterdon and Warren counties are under quarantine to try to prevent the spread of a…
It is possible to destroy the egg mass, but the small gray spots can be easy to miss, Wolfe said, placed under steps or 20 feet up a tree.
The Department of Agriculture asks residents to survey their property for signs of lanternflies and be careful about transporting them accidently. That includes keeping car windows closed when parked and examining trailers and vehicles before leaving.
“This insect has the potential to greatly impact agricultural crops and hardwood trees,” reads a statement on the department website. It says the insects feed on the sap of several plants including grape vines, maples and black walnut. “While it does not harm humans or animals, it can reduce the quality of life for people living in heavily infested areas.”
Welcome to the discussion.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.