The Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive insect from China first found in Pennsylvania in 2014. As of July 2024, reproducing populations have been found in 17 eastern states with individual insects found in 2 additional states. Unfortunately, the insect likes to lay its eggs on hard objects that can easily be shipped long distances. This includes a recent (March 2024) find at the Truckee border station where an “art installation” from NY heading to Sonoma was found to have multiple (11) egg masses. The artwork was sent back to Nevada where the exterior was cleaned before it was allowed to continue to Sonoma. Once in Sonoma, additional egg masses were found on the interior of the artwork and promptly destroyed. Ultimately this is a success story as the invasive pest was found and destroyed. But this is also a stark warning that one missed inspection could have allowed the egg masses into the state undetected. And even after detection, egg masses still made it into CA wine country before being destroyed.
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