27-05-2025
Quarantine area expanded for invasive insect
(WKBN) — The quarantine area for the spotted lanternfly has expanded once again — this time to include Trumbull County.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) recently expanded the spotted lanternfly (SLF) quarantine to include counties in northeast and northwest Ohio to reduce the spread of the invasive insect. The six new counties now under quarantine are: Wood, Seneca, Summit, Portage, Trumbull and Carroll counties.
The updated quarantine is a result of several new infestations reported through ODA's online Ohio Plant Pest Reporter. This brings the number of counties under quarantine in the state up to 18 — including Mahoning and Columbiana, which were already on the list.
'The spotted lanternfly is an invasive pest that is known to cause harm to Ohio's agricultural industry,' ODA Director Brian Baldridge said. 'We appreciate community members stepping up to report this insect when it is found. With their help, our experts can more efficiently identify SLF, treat it, and work to protect the abundant plant life we have here in Ohio.'
The spotted lanternfly is an insect native to Asia that is a pest of grapes, hops and apples, along with many other species of plants. This pest is specifically a concern for Ohio's grape and wine industry, which contributes more than $6 billion in economic activity to the state yearly.
The pesky insect was first detected in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014. It was likely brought to the U.S. by imported goods, according to ODA. The first confirmation in Ohio was in Mingo Junction in 2020.
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