Pest-Fighters Sought To Destroy Spotted Lanternfly Eggs In Moorestown

MOORESTOWN, NJ — You can help protect four Burlington County parks from invasive spotted lanternflies at some upcoming egg-scraping sessions.

Officials say this effort, though it sounds gross, is essential to cutting down the population when the bugs are at their most vulnerable life stage. The county is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and local volunteers to battle the invasion of these bugs.

The events are at parks in Delanco, Delran, and Moorestown this winter (see below for full details).

The invasive species lays eggs from September through December, and the egg masses can be seen from September to June. While the adult spotted lanternfly doesn't survive the winter, the egg masses do before hatching in the spring. Related article —Spotted Lanternfly Leaving Egg Masses Around NJ: What Residents Can Do

The egg masses are about 1 inch in size and contain 30-50 eggs. Eighty to 90 percent of egg masses on trees are found 10 feet above the ground or higher.

Volunteers will learn from a USDA specialist how to easily identify and destroy the eggs of this species, and why the bugs are considered such a threat to native trees and plants. Then, volunteers will get scraping tools and put their newfound knowledge to the test as they hunt and destroy hidden egg masses around the parks.

The sessions will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the following locations:

• Jan. 10: Pennington Park in Delanco.
• Jan. 18: Amico Island Park in Delran.
• Feb. 1: Boundary Creek Park in Moorestown.
• Feb. 15: Burlington County Agricultural Center in Moorestown.

Rain dates are Jan. 25 and Feb. 22. The county encourages residents to register before each session to make sure there are enough scraping tools available.

Click the link above for your preferred session if you wish to volunteer.

Burlington County Commissioner Allison Eckel said people need to work together to protect the county's parks, forests, and farms.

“These volunteer scraping sessions are a great opportunity for adults and children to help guard our parks, plus the skills they learn can help them find and destroy egg masses in their own backyards and local communities," said Eckel, who is the liaison to the Department of Resource Conservation and Parks.

While spotted lanternflies don't harm animals or humans, they can reduce the quality of life for people in heavily infested areas, according to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA). The insect feeds on the sap of many plants important to New Jersey, including grapevines, maples and black walnut.

When they feed, they excrete honeydew, which can attract bees, wasps and other insects. The substance also builds up and promotes the growth of sooty mold, which can cover plants, forest understories, patio furniture, cars and other surfaces.

The spotted lanternfly is native to China, India and Vietnam but was first discovered domestically in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014. New Jersey's first confirmed spotted lanternfly sighting came in July 2018 in Warren County. The critter has since spread to all of the state's counties.

Patch's Josh Bakan contributed to this report.