There have been reports of the reappearance of the spotted lanternfly in many parts of the United States, including New York and New Jersey. Because of the insect’s propensity to hitchhike, many states are at risk of being invaded, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer estimates that it will need $22 million in financing from the federal government to eradicate the pests statewide.
Both tourism and agriculture are now at risk if the spotted lanternfly is allowed to continue unchecked, as Schumer stated on Sunday. “This is a multi-million dollar threat to New York’s economy,” Schumer said. “If the spotted lanternfly is allowed to continue unchecked, it will.”
The spotted lanternfly is a type of insect that has spots.
According to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, the spotted lanternfly, which is originally from China and is black and white with red spots all over its body, was detected for the first time in Pennsylvania in the year 2014. (APHIS). At this time, the invasive species has been documented in 11 states. They are responsible for the spread of disease in more than 70 different plant species, including grapevines and fruit trees, because they feed on such plants. Through the use of an interactive map that saw its most recent update on August 8th, the New York State Integrated Pest Management program at Cornell University has been keeping track of confirmed locations of the pest.
What are some of the potential consequences if they continue to spread?
This may have a significant effect on the economy. An infestation of spotted lanternflies in Pennsylvania cost the state around 484 jobs and $50,1 million in 2019, and it was anticipated that the problem will cost at least $324 million annually if it was not controlled.
According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, the “full level of economic damage this bug could cause at this time is unknown,” even though the value of New York’s apple and grape output alone comes to 358.1 million dollars (DEC). If the disease continues to spread, it has the potential to have a significant negative impact on the “grape, orchard, and logging businesses” across the country.
What exactly would be accomplished with additional funds?
Schumer claims that additional actions will be required to effectively curb the invasion, even though several preventative measures have already been implemented. In New York, multiple departments are collaborating on an effort to restrict the future spread of an invasive species through the use of trapping surveys and inspections. Since the spotted lanternfly is “currently reaching its adult stage and will eventually begin laying egg masses that will hatch next spring,” the state of New Jersey has announced that it will reimburse counties up to $15,000 for their efforts to combat the pest, which is “currently becoming its adult stage.”
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Schumer is advocating for a government contribution of $22 million to the APHIS program to be included in the 2019 budget. He claims that additional funding would “improve their work with states to avoid and control invasive species like the Spotted Lanternfly” as well as assist in educating the general public about the potential danger. “We need to stamp out this bug before it spreads, or our farmers and local businesses might face millions of dollars in damage and an unmanageable swarm,” Schumer said. “We need to stomp out this bug before it spreads.”
What ought I do if I come across a spotted lanternfly?
People who have had an experience with a spotted lanternfly can use the reporting platforms provided by many of the states, which allow them to specify where they had their encounter. Anyone who spots a spotted lanternfly outside of a quarantine region is urged to immediately notify their state’s department of agriculture of their discovery. This request comes from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
