The Town of Southampton Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management has been made aware of the likely spread of the invasive Spotted Lanternfly to the East End of Long Island.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County has made the Town aware of the increased spread of the invasive spotted lanternfly pest into Western Suffolk and warns of it’s likely continued migration East. Although the spotted lanternfly is not dangerous to people, animals or structures, it is damaging to agriculture and our environment. Spotted Lanternflies are capable of feeding on a variety of plants and foliage and can be particularly dangerous to grapes.
Residents and visitors can assist in stopping the spread of this invasive pest species. If observed, residents are encouraged to report the sighting of the spotted lanternfly so that scientists and environmentalists can attempt to track and monitor the spread. Reporting can be done easily online at https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/a08d60f6522043f5bd04229e00acdd63 which will share the information with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
“Along with reporting the sighting, we encourage people to kill any spotted lanternflies that they see,” said Southampton Town Emergency Manager Ryan Murphy. People can step on or crush any observed spotted lanternflies to kill them. “People are also urged to not become inadvertent transporters of spotted lanternflies,” Murphy said. Spotted lanternflies and their eggs can be found on vehicles, in containers and on all sorts of surfaces. By moving these items from one area to another without removing the insects or their eggs, people can inadvertently cause additional spread of the pest. “It is up to all of us to be aware and take action to help stop the spread of the spotted lanternfly,” said Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman.
Residents are encouraged to learn more about the spotted lanternfly, the impacts it can have to the environment and ways in which they can help to stop the spread of spotted lanternflies by visiting the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences website at https://cals.cornell.edu/new-york-state-integrated-pest-management/outreach-education/whats-bugging-you/spotted-lanternfly.
Learn more about the spotted lanternfly and how to manage it
