UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The spotted lanternfly continues its trek across Pennsylvania, prompting the state Department of Agriculture to add 11 counties to the spotted lanternfly quarantine zone, including Centre County, where the infestation is limited to College Township.
Adams, Armstrong, Bedford, Centre, Fulton, Indiana, Lycoming, Mercer, Snyder, Union and Washington counties bring the total to 45 Pennsylvania counties quarantined. A map of the quarantine zone can be downloaded as a PDF here.
This recent action reinforces the importance of Penn State employees in helping to stop the spread of the invasive pest, which poses a threat to Pennsylvania’s economy by damaging crops, landscapes and natural ecosystems.
All Penn State employees across the commonwealth whose work duties require travel to, from and within the quarantine zone must take an online class on the spotted lanternfly at https://lrn.psu.edu.
Because Centre County now is included in the quarantine zone, this directive applies to all employees physically working at the University Park campus. The content of this course was created by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture in partnership with Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
When traveling within or leaving the quarantine zone, employees must do a quick inspection of the vehicles they are using and document it on an inspection log, according to Lysa Holland, environmental compliance engineer in the Environmental Health and Safety office.
This log and other related materials are part of spotted lanternfly kits, which are available from safety officers and/or spotted lanternfly designated employees in each college/unit at University Park. Those using a short-term fleet rental should request a spotted lanternfly kit when picking up the vehicle.
Additionally, the state Department of Agriculture advises people traveling within the quarantine zone to keep a spotted lanternfly checklist in their vehicles. By signing the checklist, residents indicate that they have inspected their vehicles for the presence of the spotted lanternfly and have removed any present. A copy of the checklist can be downloaded from the Environmental Health and Safety website.
This checklist is a crucial tool for everyone, especially for the anticipated influx of visitors to Centre County and the University Park campus for commencement ceremonies and other spring events, said Holland.
“We all must be vigilant in stopping the spread of this destructive insect,” she said. “A small investment of time by our staff in learning how to help stop the spread of this pest — and the cooperation of visitors to University Park — can have a big impact.”
Penn State has been at the forefront of the effort to stop the spotted lanternfly invasion. College of Agricultural Sciences faculty, Penn State Extension educators, research technicians, and graduate and undergraduate students are engaged in spotted lanternfly studies. Their research objectives regarding the spotted lanternfly are clear — to find sustainable long-term solutions that are effective and environmentally safe.
More information about Penn State procedures for implementing the spotted lanternfly quarantine can be found on the Environmental Health and Safety website.
To learn more about the spotted lanternfly, permitting regulations, management techniques and how to report a sighting, visit the Penn State Extension website.