Scientists in Fairfax, Va. have launched a four-year, $200,000 effort to try to mitigate the spread and damage of the lanternfly at two county parks — 1,200-acre Laurel Hill in Lorton and 10-acre Blake Lane in Oakton.
Experts are focusing on getting rid of the insect’s favored host, the tree of heaven, by cutting it down and using herbicide to kill it.Habig-Myers said that while there’s not a large lanternfly infestation in Fairfax yet, “it starts with one and then the population builds … it can become a very large population of insects at once.”the spotted lanternfly was found in Berks County in Pennsylvania in 2014, likely having hopped aboard a shipment of stone to reach its new home.
There are few lanternfly predators other than praying mantises, which can’t keep the invasive insects in check if the population gets too big. Fairfax park officials said they want to keep the lanternfly population from growing because too many insects could dissuade the public from coming to recreation areas, playgrounds, pools and picnic shelters. The loss of park entry fees would be an economic blow, according to John Burke, the natural resources branch manager for the Fairfax County Park Authority.“For the last half of the summer, it could be rainy sticky honeydew in isolated situations,” Habig-Myers said.
If someone sees a lanternfly in Fairfax, they can report it by sending an email to [email protected] or calling 703-324-5304. Visit the
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