Spotted lanternflies found in Ohio put Lake Erie wine producers on high alert

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Spotted lanternflies spread to at least 12 states

An invasive, plant-killing insect has been spotted in Ohio, where it threatens the state’s lakeside grape growing and wine industries, as well as other agricultural producers.

The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) was identified in several areas of a local Cleveland park in August after first showing up in the state near the village of Mingo Junction in October 2020, according to officials.

The invasive bug reportedly feeds on the sap of more than 70 plant varieties but poses a specific threat to grape vines and other fruit-baring plants.

The wine industry along Lake Erie, not even an hour from Cleveland, is now on high alert, although the invasive insect has not yet been seen there according to South River Vineyards owner, Gene Sigel, who also manages several other vineyards in the area.

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"I’m surprised it took so long for them to make it to Cleveland, but once they arrive they’re everywhere," Sigel said. "Right now, we haven’t seen them, but if they become a reality here we’ll have to deal with them the same way we’ve had to with other pests."

The spotted lanternfly, which is native to China, was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014 though officials believe the insect may have been there longer. (Stephen Goin/Fox News)

Sigel told Fox News that Ohio’s wine-making industry or "grape belt," which includes as many as 350 wineries, may not survive if the invasive insect continues to spread.

"These bugs attack the base of the vine, so we would have to change our whole method of farming to where we bring in new vines every year … it’s possible to do, but it’s not sustainable for every producer," Sigel said.

The spotted lanternfly, which is native to China, was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014. The black and red insects have now appeared in at least 12 states including Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

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While the species does not fly far, researchers say they are great hitchhikers. In Ohio, it is believed the insects likely traveled to Cleveland by laying their eggs on a train.

"It’s not a matter of ‘if’ the next pest is going to come and threaten our forests, but when is it going to come," said Jennifer Kipp, Manager of Urban Forestry for the Cleveland Department of Public Works.

The spotted lanternfly reportedly feeds on the sap of more than 70 plant varieties but poses a specific threat to grape vines and other fruit baring plants.  (Stephen Goin/Fox News)

Kipp said early sightings of the spotted lanternfly reminded her of what Cleveland endured when another invasive species, the emerald ash borer, nearly wiped out the city’s ash tree population – although, she is more hopeful this time around.

"I think that we’re fortunate in the Cleveland area because the spotted lanternfly probably won’t have the same impact on our trees, which don’t really have fruit … it may not cause as many problems as the emerald ash borer did," she said

In higher-risk areas, the spotted lanternfly could drain hundreds of millions of dollars from the agricultural trade of several states if not contained, according to different estimates.

However, Dr. Mark Willis an entomologist and professor biology at Case Western Reserve University, says it will not be easy to stop them.

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"They can actually drain a lot of the nutrients the plant is making, affecting fruit size and quantity," Willis said. "And it has no local parasites, no predators, it has no diseases, so there’s no clamp on the population size."

To mitigate the spread, many states have asked the public to change certain behaviors.

To mitigate the spread of spotted lanteflies, officials in New York City have urged residents to kill the bug 'on sight.' (Stephen Goin/Fox News)

In Virginia, for example, agriculture officials have asked people to only buy firewood locally and to burn it before spotted lanternfly eggs hatch in May. In New York, officials have urged residents to "kill on sight" if they spot the invasive pest.

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"You know, you’d help us all out if step on it. I think that’s not a horrible thing and I actually like insects," Willis said. "You can also scrape the insects into a plastic bag and fill it with hand sanitizer or throw it in the freezer."

As far as permanent solutions go, Willis told Fox News that some researchers have considered introducing a "control species," a parasite or pest from Asia that would prey upon the spotted lanternfly, so long as it does not become a problem itself.