Community
Massachusetts Dept. of Agricultural Resources confirms infestation of invasive insect in Bristol County
The Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources recently confirmed an infestation of the invasive insect known as spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula or “SLF”) in Seekonk. They received reports from the public and a member of MDAR’s spotted lanternfly survey team confirmed that the pests were present.
Spotted lanternfly is a pest that attacks tree-of-heaven, grapevines, maple trees, hops vines, and many other types of plants. This pest is known to impact grape/wine producers and other agricultural commodities, and can also interfere with outdoor recreation if infestations reach high levels, due to the swarming behavior of adult SLF in late summer and fall. That said, the insects themselves do not bite or sting – they are a nuisance because they gather in large numbers in areas where people are, and cover anything they are on with a sticky, sugary waste product known as honeydew.
If you are able, you are encouraged to report any sightings of this pest. You can do this by going to the SLF web page (https://massnrc.org/pests/slf).
- Residents: https://massnrc.org/pests/linkeddocuments/SLFHomeownerMgmtGuide.pdf (and in other languages)
- Businesses: https://massnrc.org/pests/linkeddocuments/SLFChecklistForBusinesses.pdf
