Notice: Spotted Lanternfly and Nursery Stock (from MDAR)
Last year, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) detected populations of the invasive pest known as spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) in multiple locations throughout the state. Since this is the time of year that nurseries are receiving shipments of stock for the spring planting season, MDAR reminds growers and landscapers to inspect any plant material coming from states where SLF has been found to ensure it does not harbor SLF egg masses, and to report any finds to MDAR. This reminder is especially important as MDAR has recently received several reports that nursery stock from SLF-infested areas was sent to Massachusetts growers. Because SLF egg masses are flat and gray in color, they are difficult to detect, especially on tree bark. For examples, please see this Pest ID Tool: https://massnrc.org/pests/blog/?p=2680.
If you find an egg mass or any other life stage of SLF, please report it to MDAR immediately at https://massnrc.org/pests/slf. You can also use this link to download MDAR’s Best Management Practices for Nurseries and Landscapers and other educational materials, or to see a map of where this pest has been found in Massachusetts and elsewhere in the USA. 