Description:
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive planthopper native to South East Asia. Discovered in Berks County, it continues to expand into new territory in Pennsylvania and is now known to exist in Virginia. Spotted lanternflies eat sap from plants. They have a very wide range of host plants. They prefer Ailanthus trees (tree of heaven), walnuts, and grape vines as a first choice, most any other hardwood tree as a second choice, and with less frequency, pine trees. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has enacted a quarantine order to try to reduce the spread of this insect. In this session we will provide an update on this invasive pest, describe its biology, and discuss the potential financial impact to our landscapes, forests, and agriculture. We will highlight different management strategies and their effectiveness, and conclude with a demonstration of proper insecticide and herbicide treatments. Jeff Picher has over 30 years of green industry experience including 22 years as an Arborist/Sales Representative for F.A Bartlett Tree Experts. This course carries 3 CEUs for ISA certified arborists (S=1, P=2, M=0) and pesticide update credits from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.