The spotted lanternfly is getting worse in some of New York state’s growing regions.
Brian Eshenaur, the invasive species coordinator at Cornell’s Integrated Pest Management program, said more and more New Yorkers may be affected by the presence of the spotted lanternfly.
"It excretes honeydew, and in a backyard situation that can be annoying because that drips down, mold grows on top of that sugary substance. It gets on cars,” he said. “It just can be kind of a nuisance."
And the invasive species is also taking a toll on the state’s economy, particularly grape growing regions.
Kyle Bekelja, a grape integrated pest management specialist at Cornell, said the spotted lanternfly is becoming more common in the Finger Lakes region. It’s taking a toll on customers trying to enjoy outdoor areas at wineries, and it’s creating more work for growers.
"With the spotted lanternfly, once the grapes are harvested, there's a time between that harvest and when it gets really cold, cold enough to kill the adults, that those growers are going to have to keep their equipment active for longer and have to make more trips out in the vineyard to manage the pests," Bekelja said.
Now, researchers hope a new piece of legislation will help. The Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act, bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, designates the spread of the insect as a high-priority research and extension initiative and provides funding for the fight.
Bekelja said the legislation is needed because the spotted lanternfly affects the whole landscape and is a problem that needs to be tackled from a lot of different angles.
"I'm focused on preventing contamination on farms, but there are other groups of researchers who are looking into biological control agents for example,” he said.
Eshenaur said he’s hopeful the federal legislation will encourage even more cooperation and coordinated efforts between states.
"Already we've been working together, sharing information back and forth, doing collaborative research, and having funds directed from the federal government can really facilitate that," he said.
Eshenaur said the spotted lanternfly is already being spotted as far west as Illinois. Researchers expect the invasive species to eventually affect growing regions in California, Oregon, and Washington.
If you think you’ve seen the spotted lanternfly, Cornell researchers want to hear from you. Click here for more information.
