Invasive spotted lanternfly expected to arrive in Wisconsin, insect expert says

A brand new invasive insect is shifting throughout the nation towards Wisconsin, with one skilled saying it’s solely a matter of time earlier than it reaches the state. 

Native to China, the noticed lanternfly first confirmed up in Pennsylvania in 2014. It has since been present in 12 states. The U.S. Division of Agriculture says the species “may severely influence the nation’s grape, orchard and logging industries” if it continues to unfold. 

Economists from Penn State’s Faculty of Agricultural Sciences estimate the noticed lanternfly may price their state’s economic system not less than $324 million yearly and about 2,800 jobs. 

P.J. Liesch, supervisor of the College of Wisconsin-Madison Insect Diagnostic Lab, not too long ago joined Wisconsin Public Radio’s “The Larry Meiller Present” to debate the insect and its potential results on the state. 

The noticed lanternfly is sort of a large aphid in the way it has a needle-like mouth that may drink from crops, he mentioned. A whole lot or 1000’s of them can feed on timber or grapevines, and all of the ingesting will hurt the crops.

Liesch mentioned the feeding can result in a “fairly messy scenario throughout” due to how they excrete honeydew, which is extra sugar of their waste. Mould can develop on that, too. 

The noticed lanternfly feeds on a broad vary of crops, Liesch mentioned. Specialists have documented not less than 70 plant species. He mentioned he hasn’t heard as a lot concern about subject crops or greens. They often go after timber.

“Consider cherry timber in Door County and apple orchards,” he mentioned. “We all know fruit timber will be in danger. However a fair larger concern for us on the larger image degree is grapes. This insect actually, actually is keen on grapes. So, grape growers and the winery business right here within the state and within the Midwest might be going to must take care of this insect within the not-too-distant future.”

Liesch mentioned these bugs are nice hitchhikers. They’ll discover their manner on cargo shipped from the East Coast. He mentioned the noticed lanternfly is just like the spongy moth in the way it can lay eggs on non-plant materials, such because the underside of a car or a truck loaded with pallets. 

There have been a small variety of cases the place useless noticed lanternflies have been present in items shipped to Wisconsin, he mentioned, recalling one time final yr when one was discovered useless in a southern Wisconsin warehouse after coming from southeastern Pennsylvania. 

So, what ought to occur if — or when — they make it to Wisconsin? 

Some states with the bugs are calling on residents to kill the bugs, typically by holding occasions or creating an app to trace kills, The New York Occasions reported not too long ago. These calls are receiving some pushback for causes that embody animal rights or questioning how dangerous the flies will be. 

Liesch mentioned Wisconsin winery managers could have to spray pesticides lots. However he mentioned the noticed lanternfly is fairly cell, making it exhausting to cease. 

One other technique is sticky bands that wrap round tree trunks to forestall the bugs from strolling up the tree. Nonetheless, Liesch mentioned there’s concern the bands may adversely have an effect on birds and squirrels. 

“It’s positively a difficult pest to take care of,” he mentioned.