Source: TapInto.net New Jersey
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) has made funds available to reimburse counties for treatment of the spotted lanternfly.
The funding can be as much as $15,000 and possibly more. The funds will be given to counties for costs they accrue for chemical treatment activities associated with spotted lanternfly control.
“This is an excellent opportunity for each county in New Jersey to take advantage of funding that can assist them in helping reduce the populations of this invasive pest,” NJDA Secretary Douglas Fisher said. “The more participants we have in this program the stronger our fight will be against this invasive menace.”
The spotted lanternfly is currently reaching its adult stage and will eventually begin laying egg masses that will hatch next spring. While the adult spotted lanternfly cannot survive the winter temperatures, the egg masses are not affected.
Home and business owners can go to BadBug.NJ.gov to find information that includes a timeline for the stages of growth for the insect as well as treatment options. Along with the listed treatment options, residents and businesses can also use licensed pesticide applicators to provide treatments to kill the spotted lanternfly. However, if residents do choose an over-the-counter treatment option, they should carefully follow directions on the product when applying it.
While the spotted lanternfly does not harm humans or animals, it can feed on about 70 different types of vegetation or trees. The pest’s preferred host is the Tree of Heaven, an invasive plant that has been in the United States for decades. The spotted lanternfly is native to Asia and was first found in the U.S. in Berks County, Pa., in 2014. It is considered a plant hopper and can fly only a few feet at a time. However, the spotted lanternfly is an excellent hitchhiker and can travel on almost any kind of transportation for several miles, which has allowed it to spread to several states.
The NJDA asks people to check their vehicles whenever possible before leaving an area to make sure the pest is not coming along for the ride.