PennState Extension recently held a series of public meetings about the Spotted Lanternfly and the dangers associated with this red and black bug.

The adult Spotted Lanternfly is present in July. The Spotted Lanternfly is 1 inch long and 1/2 inch wide at rest and is grey with black spots. There are black bands in its wings with red. The bug has a very long proboscis which is what causes such damage as it pierces the bark of a tree to suck on the sap. The bug then leaves what is known as honeydew which is actually their droppings.

The Spotted Lanternfly is actually a hopping bug.

What makes it a hitchhiker? It lays its eggs on many outside locations such as patio furniture, firewood, vehicles and just about any outdoor location. It is important to check anything outside to eliminate the creatures. The Spotted Lanternfly is native to China, Korea and Vietnam and it attached to some cargo and now resides here.

The Spotted Lanternfly eggs hatched in May. The eggs look like a smudge of mud. The main tree they are attracted to is the Tree of Heaven. The impact of these bugs is also felt in willow trees, grapes, apples and stone fruits.

To eliminate these bugs, place sticky tape on the trunk of the tree as the nymphs travel up the tree. As the tape becomes full, the tape can be removed and placed in alcohol or hand sanitizer. Insecticides can also be used and double-bagged as disposed.

In a recent workshop in Salisbury Township, Randy Fey, master gardener, master watershed steward and forester for the City of Allentown, 1983 to 2009, said the workshops were being held to alert homeowners to the dangers of the Spotted Lanternfly.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has allocated $17.5 million to halt the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly in Pennsylvania.

The Lehigh Valley is at the epicenter of the battle to stop the invasive pest threatening the livelihood of vineyard, fruit tree and forestry business owners in the state.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is already in the fray with 13 counties in southeastern Pennsylvania under a quarantine.

According to the PDA website, the following counties are under quarantine for Spotted Lanternfly: Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia and Schuylkill.

The 13-county quarantine in Southeastern Pennsylvania is an attempt to restrict the movement of the Spotted Lanternfly.

“This insect was here two years before anyone knew it was here,” Fey said.

“They [Spotted Lanternfly] can get on your cars, your decks,” Fey said. “They congregate. It’s not like the stinkbug that gets in your house.

“They [Spotted Lanternfly] do not bite, but when you go after them, they jump like a grasshopper,” Fey said.

Fey said the Spotted Lanternfly can fly 50 to 75 yards.

Residents are also asked to collect specimens and submit them to the PDA, report Spotted Lanternfly sightings to 866-253-7189 and take a photo of them and send to: Badbug@pa.gov.

“If everybody does what they can for their own sites, we can get a handle on this,” Fey said.