Pennsylvania is working to crack down on an invasive pest that has the possibility to cause devastation to crops and other vegetation.

On Thursday, Carbon County Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein spoke about a recent presentation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the spotted lanternfly problem. Carbon County is one of 13 counties in the state where the spotted lanternfly has been detected and a quarantine for exporting goods has been put into effect. Schuylkill, Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton counties are also in the quarantine area.

“It’s becoming quite an issue,” Nothstein said.

As the warmer weather ramps up, the insect, which typically breeds on the tree-of-heaven, will begin affecting fruit trees and vineyards.

“It’s a major concern,” he said. “It could devastate some of our crops.”

To combat this, the USDA is working with residents to identify areas where the spotted lanternfly has been spotted and will be sending urgent notices to residents in the surrounding areas to allow the department to treat the trees-of-heaven in that area with a combination of herbicide that will kill the smaller trees and a type of insecticide that is showing great promise in killing the bugs.

“To help to prevent further dispersal of this invasive insect, we need to treat the host trees on public and private property,” Tammy L. Craig, supervisory plant protection and quarantine officer for the Easton USDA office wrote in the letter to homeowners in affected areas. “Your cooperation is being asked to aid us in this effort by consenting to have the host trees on your property treated.”

The treatment, if an infestation is found on these trees in an area, is free to the residents. Nothstein stressed the importance of allowing the USDA to complete the spraying if these trees and bugs are found in the area.

To help the USDA combat the spread of this infestation, residents can also take proactive approaches, such as purchasing a sticky strip to wrap around the base of trees so the bug nymphs and adults get stuck, and to thoroughly check your vehicle and outdoor equipment before leaving the quarantine zone.

In addition, businesses and organizations that move vehicle products and other conveyances within or out of the quarantine zone need to obtain a permit from Penn State Extension at extension.psu.edu/slf-permit.

For other management options, visit extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly or aphis.usda.gov/hungrypests/slf.

To report a spotted lanternfly sighting, call the Easton USDA office, at 484-373-5917 if you are east of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and the Minersville USDA office at 570-399-7309 if you are west of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.