North Carolina Agriculture Officials Urge Action Against Spotted Lanternfly Threatening Local Industries
North Carolina agriculture officials are calling on residents to combat the spread of the invasive spotted lanternfly, which has been detected in several counties within the Piedmont Triad region, including Forsyth, Guilford, and Davidson. The spotted lanternfly, first identified in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014, poses significant risks to crops, plants, and buildings. The insect is particularly threatening to the local grape and wine industries due to its feeding habits, which leave behind a sap that can develop into a black, sooty mold, hindering plant growth. Amy Michael, an entomological programs manager with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, noted that the insect likely arrived through interstate travel and has persisted due to the availability of food sources and the presence of the invasive tree of heaven. Residents are advised to look for egg masses and remove them, and to report sightings outside the affected counties to the NCDA&CS. 
