Source: NCSU COLLEGE OF AG & LIFE SCIENCES, 8/17/22



As we head into harvest season for grapes, North Carolina vineyards are on the lookout for a particularly unwanted guest—the spotted lanternfly. This invasive pest originated in China and first was reported in the United States in 2014. It has now established itself along the East Coast in New York, Delaware, Virginia and North Carolina.

Currently, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences is assessing and treating spotted lanternflies in Kernersville and a small area in Forsyth County. Early detection is critical to stopping its spread and minimizing the devastating effect it could have on NC crops, especially grapevines and fruit trees. We sat down with Kelly Oten, assistant professor and Extension specialist in forest health to learn how to spot it, what to do about it, and why we need to report it.

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