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The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) presents a challenge every spring as their eggs, which can survive the winter, begin to hatch. While the pest's presence has been limited to certain areas, the county is trying to proactively control the insects' spread before it worsens.
“We’re still trying to look for areas where it is,” said Forest and Pest Management Branch Environmental Analyst Valerie Huelsman. “That’s why we’re encouraging people to report it when they see it."
Native to China, the Spotted Lanternfly was first detected in the US in Pennsylvania in September 2014, according to the USDA. Sightings of the bug were first confirmed in Prince William County in March 2021, the county said on their website.
SFL feeds on an assortment of fruits and trees with the tree-of-heaven being one of its preferred hosts, the agency says. In Prince William County, the insect has the potential to negatively impact tree growth especially among black walnut trees.
"Spotted lanternflies are invasive and can be spread long distances by people who move infested material or items containing egg masses," the USDA reports. "If allowed to spread in the United States, this pest could seriously impact the country’s grape, orchard, and logging industries."
Spotted lanterflies can lay their eggs on anything from tree bark and lumber to bricks, stone and even vehicles, the county said. This increases their potential to spread even more.
Prince William County has a specific management team that is working on outreach, training and monitoring programs to help the public spot SFL population in the area. Anyone interested in contributing or learning more can fill out a survey or visit the county's website.
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