The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is on the lookout for the invasive spotted lanternfly after a single specimen was identified for the first time at a retail nursery in Corvallis.
An employee at the nursery found the dead spotted lanternfly in a shipment of ceramic pots that arrived by truck from Pennsylvania on September 29th.
The spotted lanternfly is native to China, India, Vietnam and other parts of East Asia. It was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, and has since spread across 10 eastern states of the U.S.A.
Spotted lanternflies pose a threat to several crops in Oregon, including winegrapes, apples, pears, cherries and hops.
Helmuth Rogg, director of plant protection and conservation programs for ODA, said the focus now is to prevent the pest from becoming established around the state, which could be costly. In the meantime, Rogg said ODA is relying on its partners in the agriculture industry to report invasive species and pests.
“We cannot be everywhere, that is why it is so critical to have the support of our industry and all Oregonians in detecting invasive pests such as the spotted lanternfly before it becomes widespread,” Rogg said. “The spotted lanternfly could become a serious pest here in the Pacific Northwest and we want to prevent it from coming to Oregon in the first place.
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