Spotted lanternflies have returned for their fifth consecutive summer in New York State, sparking worries amongst the state’s agricultural economy, especially on the East End, where the invasive pests may harm local vineyards.
According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, the red and black insects’ feeding habits of sucking sap from over 70 plant species can cause an immediate threat to outdoor recreation, forests, crops, and gardens. Grapes tend to be a major target, which can stir up trouble for the more than 30 vineyards in the North Fork, but officials keep a close eye out and monitor attentively, while encouraging the public to do the same.
As of July 29, many reports were spotted in Nassau and Suffolk counties as far as Riverhead, according to an Aug. 14 press conference with state Department of Agriculture and Markets officials and experts from Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Integrated Pest Management program. Residents in both counties no longer need to report sightings, but they will be accepted if the infestations are in a non-routine area…