‘There’s still time:’ Pennsylvania residents urged to smash these if seen

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — Pennsylvania residents are told “there’s still time” to smash these insect egg masses if they see them.

The spotted lanternfly quarantine for 2024 has taken over three-quarters of Pennsylvania. Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding added Greene County to the list on Friday, March 29.

While the adult insects die over the winter, their eggs are covered with a putty-colored coating to protect them. The egg masses can survive sub-zero temperatures and be on any outdoor surface including trees, equipment and even lawn furniture.

The best way to get rid of the eggs is to scrape them off and smash them, something the Department said is easy to do and requires no special tools.

“There’s still time to help get rid of lanternflies before they hatch,” Secretary Redding said. “As you clean up your yard or enjoy these early spring days, every egg mass you scrape and squash means 30-50 pests won’t hatch in May. Our dedicated teams are seeking and destroying lanternflies with partners across Pennsylvania. Even our highly trained dog, Lucky, is sniffing out eggs where people can’t find them. But you don’t need special training or a highly sensitive nose. Everyone can help stop this nuisance that threatens valuable plants and outdoor businesses.” ​

The quarantine is meant to stop lanternflies, at any stage of life, from spreading. According to the Department of Agriculture, more than 32,000 businesses across the U.S. and Canada have gotten permits for more than 1.36 million employees, demonstrating that they know how to recognize lanternflies and avoid transporting them.

The invasive pest was first discovered in the U.S. in Berks County in 2014. Efforts have slowed its spread, but the insect threatens valuable crops. Spotted lanternflies spread mostly by hitching rides on vehicles and shipments.

Governor Shapiro proposed funding to combat lanternflies and to support farmers and producers whose livelihoods are threatened by the invasive insect, including:

$3 million of a $34 million Rapid Response and Disaster Readiness Fund dedicated to aiding the department’s response to agricultural emergencies.

In late 2020, Pennsylvania employed Lucky, the nation’s first dog specially trained to detect lanternfly eggs in hard-to-reach areas like shipping pallets used to transport products from quarantined areas. 

New funding of $145,000 will expand the program into western Pennsylvania and support a second detection dog, Ruby, and her handler, who are currently in training at PennVet’s Center for Working Dogs.