Spotted lanternflies have become a familiar nuisance across Pennsylvania, and now several senators are pushing for more research to help stop them.
U.S. Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and Dave McCormick, R-Pa., joined U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., in introducing the Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act.
The bill would designate the spotted lanternfly as a high-priority research initiative for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Officials said spotted lanternflies were first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, and since then they have spread throughout the state, with populations found in 51 counties.
“Spotted lanternflies have ravaged crops that are critical to Pennsylvania’s economy including grapevines, apples, peaches, hops, and more,” Fetterman said in a news release. “For over a decade, they have cost the Commonwealth millions of dollars and thousands of jobs. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan bill to combat this invasive species and protect our farmers.”
Studies estimate that the species could cost the state $324 million annually if not contained because of the significant damage it causes to many critical agricultural areas, officials said.
“Pennsylvania’s farmers work hard to produce some of the best agricultural products in the world, and it’s concerning that their hard work is at risk of being eaten away by pests,” said Senator McCormick. “By investing in research to combat spotted lanternflies, this bill will help protect our farms, strengthen our agricultural economy, and better control this invasive species.”
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