New invasive pest ‘spotted’ in Upper Milford

Upper Milford supervisors and several residents received a tutorial on the spotted lanternfly at the Aug. 18 supervisors meeting.

John Baker and Sven-Erik Spichiger from the state Department of Agriculture presented information on the recently discovered invasive pest and explained how residents can help combat it.

The insect, which was first discovered in Pike and District townships in southeastern Berks County, comes from Asia and is particularly destructive to grapes and hardwoods, two crops with major importance to Pennsylvania’s economy, Spichiger said. Enough of them have been spotted in Upper Milford to include the township in the area of the state which has been quarantined.

That means residents have to make sure any items which are moved out of the quarantine area, such as vehicles, tents, plant containers or firewood, should be checked for egg masses, adult lanternflies and nymphs.

Businesses like landscapers have been given instructions on how to prevent the pest from spreading and most residents within the quarantine area have received a checklist.

Spichiger said the insects must spend at least part of their life cycle on Ailanthus trees, also an invasive species from Asia. The trees, also known as ‘tree of heaven,’ are similar to sumac when they’re small and look something like walnut trees when they’re full grown.

For more information on how to recognize the pest and what to do about it, or how to report a sighting, residents can go to www.pda.state.pas.us/spottedlanternfly or call the automated invasive species report line at 1-866-253-7189.

In other action last week, supervisors denied a request from Kay Builders to reduce the amount they are required to include in a letter of credit for the Fields at Indian Creek age-restricted development. The developer has asked the letter of credit be reduced for work on the Allen Street intersection.

Township Manager Daniel DeLong said he thinks it would be premature to reduce the amount because it will be quite a while until that phase of construction of the development begins.

Supervisor Robert Sentner emphatically agreed. He charged the work Kay Builders is doing now “is destroying Allen Street.”

DeLong noted the developer has 70,000 cubic feet of excess fill which will have to be trucked out of the construction site and said “there will be a lot more churned-up roads.”

Supervisors also authorized and gave direction to Assistant Township Manager Tim Haas to proceed with getting postcards printed to send to residents with information about the open space referendum which will be on the ballot in November.

Haas showed some alternative layouts for the postcard and several estimates from printers for printing and mailing the different layouts.

Supervisors also praised fire companies and the public works department for their efforts during a severe thunderstorm Aug. 12 which caused numerous downed trees and interrupted power to parts of the township for several hours.