11 More Counties Added To Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine

By Cassie Miller, Pennsylvania Capital-Star

March 26, 2022

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced Friday that 11 more counties have been added to the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine area.

The addition of Adams, Armstrong, Bedford, Centre, Fulton, Indiana, Lycoming, Mercer, Snyder, Union, and Washington counties brings 45 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties into the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine.

“Spotted lanternflies threaten outdoor businesses and quality of life, as well as grapes and other valuable crops Pennsylvania’s economy, depends on,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “It’s up to every Pennsylvanian to be on the lookout for these bad bugs. Walk your yard, gardens, or land before spring hatch and scrape egg masses. Kill every bug. Check your vehicles before traveling to ensure you’re not transporting them to a new area for new opportunities to devastate crops and outdoor quality of life.”

The quarantine, which carefully regulates the movement of the insect and items that may harbor the invasive species, requires that businesses that operate in or travel through quarantine areas obtain a Spotted Lanternfly permit.

Examples of items and materials that may harbor Spotted Lanternflies include:

• Landscaping, remodeling or construction waste
• Logs, stumps, or any tree parts
• Firewood of any species
• Grapevines for decorative purposes or as nursery stock
• Nursery stock
• Packing materials such as pots, crates, pallets, etc.
• Outdoor household articles including recreational vehicles, tractors and mowers, grills and furniture and their covers, tarps, mobile homes, tile, stone, deck boards, mobile fire pits, any associated equipment and vehicles not stored indoors.

The Pennsylvania Capital-Star,a nonpartisan, nonprofit news site, delivers honest and aggressive coverage of state government, politics and policy. Since launching in February 2019, the Capital-Star has emerged as a go-to source for in-depth original reporting, explainers on complex topics, features that ground policy debates, and progressive commentary on a range of issues. The Capital-Star is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers.