A New Threat

Ohio Department of Agriculture announces a quarantine to combat the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly…now designated a destructive plant pest under state law…which increases inspections and restricts movement of certain items from infested counties in Ohio and abroad. So far, only two counties, to the east, have reported it. The Spotted Lanternfly is native to Southeast Asia and was first detected in eastern Pennsylvania in September 2014…likely brought to the U.S. by imported goods. The pest is a great concern to the grape and wine industry. It is fond of grapevines, fruit trees, hops, blueberry, oak, pine, poplar, and walnut.