Spotted Lanternfly Update and Quarantine Details
The conversation for Extension Office Friday on The Valley Today with Janet Michael welcomed back Extension Agents Mark Sutphin & Joanne Royaltey from the Frederick County Extension Office. Mark & Joanne work out of the VCE-Frederick County office but also serve Clarke, Page, Shenandoah, and Warren Counties. Today was an update on the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) invasion and discussion about the expanded quarantine area. Mark & Joanne explained why the quarantine is in place and was expanded plus they said that reporting SLF on your property is no longer necessary. Joanne gave some do’s and don’ts for “disposing” of the pest and examples for getting kids involved. Click here to listen to the conversation.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announced on July 8, 2022 that Virginia’s Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine has expanded to include the counties of Albemarle,Augusta, Carroll, Page, Prince William, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Wythe and the cities of Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, Staunton, and Waynesboro. Frederick, Clarke and Warren counties and the city of Winchester, which were previously included in Virginia’s Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine and will remain so until further notice.
To slow the spread of SLF, businesses in the quarantined area are required to obtain a permit from VDACS and inspect regulated articles to ensure that the articles do not contain any life stage of the insect. Regulated articles are those which are considered to be a risk for movement of SLF to un-infested areas and include, but are not limited to:
- Any life stage of the SLF;
- Live or dead trees; nursery stock; green lumber; firewood; logs; perennial plants; garden plants or produce; stumps; branches; mulch; or composted or un-composted chips, bark, or yard waste;
- Outdoor industrial or construction materials or equipment; concrete barriers or structures; stone, quarry material, ornamental stone, or concrete; or construction,landscaping, or remodeling waste;
- Shipping containers, such as wood crates or boxes;
- Outdoor household articles, including recreational vehicles; lawn tractors or mowers; grills; grill or furniture covers; tarps; mobile homes; tile; stone; deck boards; or
- Any equipment, trucks, or vehicles not stored indoors; any means of conveyance utilized for movement of an article; any vehicle; or any trailer, wagon.
The permit application is available for download at www.vdacs.virginia.gov/plant-industry-services-spotted-lanternfly.shtml. Online training is required prior to submitting the permit application. There is a fee of $6 per person for the training, but no fee for the permit. Once training is completed, businesses must submit the completed permit application to VDACS at SpottedLanternfly@vdacs.virginia.gov.
The quarantine also requires residents and visitors in the area to inspect regulated articles for SLF and ensure those articles are free from the invasive insect prior to leaving the quarantined area. Residents and visitors are not required to obtain the SLF permit, but are strongly encouraged to learn how to identify SLF and kill the pest insect when found.
Joanne mentioned during the conversation that there were links in her email signature. You can email her here: royaltey@vt.edu but below are all of the links & more information.
Please do share this info with your neighbors. Combating SLF will truly ‘take a village’ and it is up to each resident to do their part! If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out to Joanne.
Biology
Detailed fact sheet on the life cycle and control of SLF
Identification
Possible SLF Egg Mass Look-alikes in Virginia
Possible SLF Immature Look-alikes in Virginia
Possible SLF Adult Look-alikes in Virginia
Control
Best Management Practices for Spotted Lanternfly in Yards and Landscapes
Residential Control for Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) in Virginia
Best Management Practices for Spotted Lanternfly on Christmas Tree Farms
Spotted Lanternfly in Virginia Vineyards: Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae)
Quarantine Information
Virginia Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine
Spotted Lanternfly Treatment Program Information
What Virginians Need to Know About the Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Spotted Lanternfly Resources
Control and Utilization of the Tree-of-Heaven by the Virginia Department of Forestry.
http://www.dof.virginia.gov/infopubs/Control-and-Utilization-of-Tree-of-Heaven-2019-03_pub.pdf
Invasive Plant Species: Ailanthus (Ailanthus altissima)
Penn State also has some helpful info that you may find useful as you combat SLF:
Comprehensive SLF Management Guide
Avoid Home Remedies to Control Spotted Lanternfly (psu.edu)
How To Remove Spotted Lanternfly Eggs (psu.edu)
Should you wish to take a pesticide free approach to managing SLF, I have included below 2 videos about banding and circle traps.
News Maker Joanne Royaltey on the Spotted Laternfly
Just yesterday June 27 the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDF) asked Virginians to report sightings of the Spotted Laternfly.
The Virginia Cooperative Extension Service of Frederick County on the other hand says there is no need to tell them, they already know.
We spoke with Frederick County Extension Agent Joanne Royaltey about it in our latest news maker.
News makers are brought to you by Warren County Together We are Community.
Joanne tells us that the Extension Office is well aware of the Lanternfly’s infestation.
She also tells us what counties are under quarantine from the bug.
Joanne also has tips on getting rid of the insect.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Ask A Master Gardener
Are you gardening challenged? On The Valley Today this afternoon, host Janet Michael went to the Frederick County Extension Office to chat with several Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners to get answers to some popular questions. Joanne Royaltey, a Program Associate in the Consumer Horticulture & Invasive Species department of Virginia Cooperative Extension led the conversation. You can click here to listen to the conversation.
Joining them to chat about gardening issues and the Master Gardener class itself were:
- Lucy Carlson, Master Gardener
- Linda Bartlett, MG Class of 2022
- Evelyn Garland, MG Class of 2022
- Lisa Robertson, MG Class of 2022
The group talked about their experiences in the class, why they joined and what they’ve learned from their participation. They also shared answers to several questions that they are asked through their “Ask a Master Gardener” help line (aka GreenHelpLine.)
If you have any type of gardening question, volunteers at the Extension Master Gardener Help Desks will research your problem and provide unbiased, research-based solutions AT NO CHARGE. They can answer questions about trees, shrubs, house plants, perennials, annuals, and more!
You can simply e-mail a description (ideally with photos) of your gardening problems to the GreenHelpLine in your county, or stop by during office hours (see below) in Frederick, Shenandoah, and Warren Counties. Page and Clarke Help Desks operate virtually, and do not hold in-person office hours. During the growing season visit their booths at area plant clinics and farmers markets as well.
Today they discussed the types of questions they get and how they find answers and solutions for them. Topics included mulching, tree-topping (DON’T DO IT!!), growing tomatoes, propagating African Violets, the importance of soil testing and learned about choosing the right space for the right plant.
Contact your local office below, visit their website: nsvmga.org and follow them on Facebook.
- Frederick County
- Location: VCE Office, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, VA
- Help Desk Hours: Every Wednesday, 10 a.m.–Noon
- E-mail: GreenHelpLine.FrederickCo@gmail.com
- Phone: 540-665-5699
- Southern States Farmers Market: Third Saturday of each month, April–October, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
- Clarke County
- Drop-off location and hours: VCE Office, 524 Westwood Rd., Berryville, VA; Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
- E-mail: NSVMGA.info@gmail.com (include “Clarke County Gardening Question” in the subject line)
- Phone: 540-955-5164
- Clarke County Farmers Market: Second Saturday of each month, May–October, 8 a.m.–Noon,
- Page County
- Drop-off location and hours: VCE Office, 215 W. Main St., Suite C, Stanley, VA; Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- E-mail: NSVMGA.info@gmail.com (include “Page County Gardening Question” in the subject line)
- Phone: 540-778-5794
- Plant Clinic at Massanutten Country Corner: Second and Fourth Saturdays of each month, April–October, 9 a.m.–Noon
- Shenandoah County
- Location: VCE Office and Classroom, Shenandoah County Government Center, 600 N. Main St., Suite 100, Woodstock, VA
- Help Desk Hours: First and third Fridays of each month, April through October, 9 a.m. –Noon; First Fridays in November and December, 9 a.m.–Noon
- E-mail: greenhelpline@gmail.com
- Phone: 540-459-6140
- South Street Barn Farmers Market: Last Saturday of each month, May–September, 8:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
- Strasburg Farmers Market: Alternating Saturdays, April–October, 8:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
- Warren
- Location: VCE Office, Warren County Government Center, 220 N. Commerce Ave., Suite 500, Front Royal, VA
- Help Desk Hours: First Monday of the month, April through October, 10 a.m. –1 p.m.
- E-mail: GreenHelpLine.WarrenCo@gmail.com
- Phone: 540-635-4549