Invasive insect detected in Michigan 

Spotted lanternfly (SLF), an invasive pest, has been detected in a Michigan county.

Michigan officials have confirmed the state’s second detection of the invasive spotted lanternfly in Monroe County.

SLF is a destructive pest that feeds on a wide variety of crops and plants, including cucumbers, basil, grapes, tree fruit as well as almond and walnut trees.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) announced that a small population of juvenile spotted lanternflies was discovered in Lambertville, Michigan, with the finding confirmed by USDA.

 

“The infestation was detected through monitoring traps deployed by Michigan State University (MSU), as part of collaborative survey initiatives with MSU, MDARD, and the USDA,” Steve Carlson, MDARD’s pesticide and plant pest management division director, said in a news release. “This work is critical in our efforts to identify and limit the spread of spotted lanternfly in Michigan.”

Native to eastern Asia, the spotted lanternfly first appeared in the U.S. in 2014 in southeastern Pennsylvania. It has since spread to 17 eastern and midwestern states. The insect is known to feed on a wide range of plants.

MDARD is collaborating with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, USDA, and Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas to assess the scope of the infestation and determine an appropriate response.

Residents are urged to help prevent the spread of spotted lanternfly by inspecting vehicles, crushing nymphs and adult insects, and reporting sightings online to Eyes in the Field. For more information, visit here.