This undated photo provided by Penn State Extension shows spotted lanternfly.
PENN STATE EXTENSION via the AP
Kanawha County has now been added to the list of West Virginia counties where the spotted lanternfly has been detected, according to a news release from the Department of Agriculture.
An infestation of spotted lanternflies was detected in St. Albans near the intersection of West Main Street and Strawberry Road. The U.S. Department of Agriculture — Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the finding.
The spotted lanternfly is an "invasive pest," according to the news release.
The insect is native to China and arrived in North America hidden on goods imported from Asia, according to the news release. Juvenile spotted lanternflies, known as nymphs, and adults prefer to feed on the invasive tree known as tree-of-heaven, but also feed on a wide range of crops and plants, including grapes, apples, hops, walnuts and hardwood trees.
“The WVDA is working closely with USDA-APHIS to identify and treat areas where spotted lanternfly is found,†Department of Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt said in the news release. “However, with no known native predators, spotted lanternfly will continue to spread across our state, impacting agriculture industries and private property. We hope a more robust federal effort to contain and slow the spread of these insects will be initiated soon.â€
The spotted lanternfly can travel short distances on their own, but their main mode of movement is hitchhiking, according to the release. People who travel to an area with spotted lanternflies are asked to carefully inspect their vehicles, trailers, boats, ATVs and any other surfaces for hitchhikers before they head home.
Kanawha is the 22nd West Virginia county where spotted lanternflies have been detected. The other counties are:
Berkeley
Brooke
Grant
Hampshire
Hancock
Hardy
Harrison
Jefferson
Marion
Marshall
McDowell
Mercer
Mineral
Monongalia
Morgan
Ohio
Pendleton
Preston
Taylor
Wetzel
Wood
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