UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — With Penn State’s academic year and football season starting soon, thousands of people will be visiting Happy Valley, and the University wants to make sure they are not spreading the spotted lanternfly — an invasive pest that feeds on more than 100 types of plants.

“The spotted lanternfly is a well-known hitchhiker, so we are concerned that people may unknowingly spread this destructive insect when traveling,” said Julie Urban, research associate professor of entomology. “We want to slow the spread of this pest to areas outside of the current quarantine zone, and citizens play an important role.”

First discovered in the U.S. in 2014 in Berks County, Pennsylvania, the pest has spread to 45 Pennsylvania counties, which make up Pennsylvania’s spotted lanternfly quarantine zone.

Counties within the quarantine zone include: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, Snyder, Union, York, Washington, Wayne and Westmoreland.

Penn State is asking visitors, especially those coming from areas in which spotted lanternfly is established, to take the following precautions before traveling:

--Walk around your vehicle and check closely for any spotted lanternfly adults and/or nymphs; particularly check the windshield wiper area, bumpers and wheel wells. In fall and winter, also look for egg masses, which have the appearance of mud splatters. On RVs, check the roofs as well.

--Check any piece of equipment or item that you will be transporting that has been outdoors in the quarantine area — such as grills, tents, tables or yard games.

--Do not park your RV or other vehicles under trees in the quarantine zone. Always keep your windows up.

--Check yourself before getting into any vehicle to make sure there are no spotted lanternfly nymphs or adults on you.

--If you find a spotted lanternfly, destroy it immediately. And, if you see one outside of the quarantine zone in Pennsylvania, report it online at extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly or by phone at 888-4BADFLY.

Urban also reminded visitors that spotted lanternfly is established in Centre County, which is home to the University Park campus. “Therefore, even if you are not coming from an area with spotted lanternflies, please take the above precautions when leaving campus,” she said.

For more information about the spotted lanternfly, visit the Penn State Extension website at https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly.