{"id":35959,"date":"2022-09-11T11:55:07","date_gmt":"2022-09-11T15:55:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/?p=35959"},"modified":"2022-09-11T11:55:07","modified_gmt":"2022-09-11T15:55:07","slug":"wny-nys-agriculture-department-asking-residents-to-be-on-the-lookout-for-spotted-lanternfly-in-wny","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2022\/09\/11\/wny-nys-agriculture-department-asking-residents-to-be-on-the-lookout-for-spotted-lanternfly-in-wny\/","title":{"rendered":"WNY\/NYS Agriculture Department asking residents to be on the lookout for Spotted Lanternfly in WNY"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Spotted Lanternfly Population Found in the Buffalo Area<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public Asked to Report Sightings to the Department<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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(NYS Agriculture Department photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Press release<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is asking residents in Western New York to be on the lookout for Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), after a population was found in the Buffalo area this week. SLF is a destructive pest that feeds on more than 70 plant species, including tree-of-heaven, and plants and crops that are critical to New York\u2019s agricultural economy, such as grapevine, apple trees, and hops. The invasive was first observed in New York State on Staten Island in August 2020, and since then the population has been reported in all New York City boroughs, Long Island, Port Jervis, Sloatsburg, Orangeburg, Ithaca, Binghamton, Middletown, Newburgh, Highland, and now in the Buffalo area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, <\/strong>\u201cWe are concerned about the significant number of adult Spotted Lanternfly that have been found in Buffalo, especially with its proximity to the Concord grape growing area in Western New York. SLF can have a devastating impact on vineyards, as we\u2019ve seen in neighboring states, so we need everyone\u2019s help to be on the lookout for this invasive and to report it immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department\u2019s Division of Plant Industry inspectors responded to reports of SLF in a residential area of Buffalo adjacent to an active rail line. As of September 9, over 100 adults have been found. Agriculture and Markets staff will continue to survey the surrounding areas in the coming days. Although the population is significant, the area was surveyed in April of 2022 and no egg masses were found, and no old egg masses have been found during the current survey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While surveys in the area are ongoing, the Department is asking for the public\u2019s help in slowing down the spread of SLF in this area by reporting any sightings immediately to agriculture.ny.gov\/reportSLF<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to reporting, residents are asked to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Take pictures of the insect, egg masses, or infestation you see and, if possible, include something for size, such as a coin or ruler.<\/li>
  2. If possible, collect the insect. Place in a bag and freeze, or in a jar with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.<\/li>
  3. Note the location (street address and zip code, intersecting roads, landmarks, or GPS coordinates).<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Adult SLF are easy to identify, as seen in the photos below. They are approximately one inch long and half an inch wide at rest, with eye-catching wings. Adults are active from July to December and begin laying eggs in September. Signs of an SLF infestation may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n