In this Fairfax County Times story, Chris Fields-Johnson of the Davey Institute, the company’s premier research, development and innovation division, explains what Virginia residents should know about the spotted lanternfly. Fields-Johnson describes what the pest looks like, how it could harm your trees and what to do if you spot it.
Posted: February 16, 2018
Up close, the spotted lanternfly looks pretty. Sporting multi-colored wings with rounded tips and a yellow abdomen covered in black bands, the insect vaguely resembles a bee mashed up with a moth.
However, those bright colors and striking patterns are a bit deceiving.
In reality, the spotted lanternfly is an invasive species that endangers fruit, nut, and hardwood trees, posing a potential threat to grapes, hops, timber, and other industries that depend on those plants.
Photo Credit: Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org