Pennsylvania – Landscaping – Energy – Environment
Your Maple trees and “Pennsylvania’s $132.5 billion agriculture industry and the quality of life for more than 13 million Pennsylvanians.”
SLF feeds on the sap from a number of plants but prefers grapevines, maples, black walnut, birch and willow. Its feeding damage stresses plants and in some cases causes death. Photo of SLF feeding: Emelie Swackhamer
Egg masses are a light gray wax-like substance that take on the appearance of mud and encompass an average of 30-50 individual eggs. Photo: Erica Smyers
“We need every Pennsylvanian to hunt for egg masses this fall and winter and destroy them – or we’re in for a scary spring.”
PA Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding
From the PA Department of Agriculture:
This October 19, 2021 map shows it’s already been reported in Beaver, Allegheny and Westmoreland counties in western Pennsylvania, as well as in Jefferson county in eastern Ohio:
This insect is reminiscent of the widespread path of destruction caused by the Emerald Ash Borer. Not good!