Special to the Record
The Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) recently confirmed an infestation of the invasive insect known as spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula or “SLF”) in Chelsea.
Members of the department’s survey team followed up on a report that came in to the city’s pest reporting website and confirmed the presence of spotted lanternfly nymphs on tree-of-heaven in the area.
While the state is working to slow the spread of spotted lanternfly, its status in other states indicates that it cannot be eradicated, city officials stated. The City of Chelsea is now working with the state to support these efforts.
Spotted lanternfly is a pest that attacks tree-of-heaven, grapevines, maple trees, hop vines, and many other types of plants. This pest is known to impact grape and wine producers and other agricultural commodities, and can also interfere with outdoor recreation if infestations reach high levels, due to the swarming behavior of adult SLF in late summer and fall.
That said, the insects themselves do not bite or sting—they are a nuisance because they gather in large numbers in areas where people are, and cover anything they are on with a sticky, sugary waste product known as honeydew.
Members of the Chelsea community may see the state’s surveyors from the MDAR and/or United State’s Department of Agriculture (USDA) later this growing season, checking trees in the area to determine the extent of the infestation. Members of the community who believe they’ve seen a spotted lanternfly, can report any sightings. The reports can be made on the Massachusetts Natural Resources Collaboration website at https://massnrc.org/.