The looming threat posed by the invasive spotted lanternfly will take center stage in the College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building and Theatre during Penn State's Ag Progress Days, August 14-16 at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center, Pennsylvania Furnace, Huntingdon County (near State College).

Displays and presentations in the building also will highlight programs related to pond management and bait-fish production, hemp research, animal health, and agricultural policy.

Native to Asia, the spotted lanternfly was found for the first time in the United States in Berks County in 2014 and since has spread throughout 13 counties in southeastern Pennsylvania-- a region that the state Department of Agriculture has designated as a quarantine zone.

The pest also has been found in Virginia and, most recently, in New Jersey.

The planthopper feeds on sap, weakening plants and leaving behind a sugary excrement called honeydew, which promotes the growth of sooty mold--  further harming the plant--  while attracting other insects and creating a sticky mess that can render outdoor areas unusable.

The pest threatens Pennsylvania's grape, tree fruit, hardwood and nursery industries, which collectively are worth about $18 billion to Pennsylvania's economy.

"Because this is the first population of spotted lanternfly outside Asia, it's difficult to assess the magnitude of the threat it presents, but it is potentially the worst introduced insect pest since the arrival of the gypsy moth nearly 150 years ago," said Rick Roush, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. Roush will co-host a spotted lanternfly update with Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding in the College Exhibits Building Theatre on August 14.

Visitors to the building also can speak with Penn State experts, learn how to identify the various life stages of spotted lanternfly, and find out how they can help contain and manage lanternfly infestations.

Residents from any of the counties under quarantine going to Ag Progress Days or to any other locations inside or outside the quarantine area should inspect their vehicles before traveling to be sure they aren't transporting spotted lanternflies, which are known to be good hitchhikers.

More information about spotted lanternfly, the state quarantine and how to report a sighting is available on the Penn State Extension website.

Click Here for other topics featured in the College Exhibits Building and for a schedule of presentations.

Sponsored by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, Ag Progress Days is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, located 9 miles southwest of State College on Route 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 14; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 15; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 16. Admission and parking are free.

For more information, visit the Ag Progress Days website. Twitter users can find and share information about the event by using the hashtag #agprogressdays, and the event also can be found on Facebook (@AgProgressDays).

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[Posted: August 1, 2018]

8/6/2018