Spotted Lanternfly: Operating Without a Permit Could Cost You $20,000

Spotted Lanternfly

Add another quarantine to the list of 2020’s challenges to overcome. This year, the state of Pennsylvania has nearly doubled the number of counties placed under quarantine due to the spotted lanternfly. This travel quarantine applies to 26 Pennsylvania counties through which commercial vehicle operators must be permitted to travel.

The spotted lanternfly was first spotted in the United States in 2014 and have since rapidly expanded their U.S. population. Originating from China, India, and Vietnam, this invasive species has taken favor to many different types of fruit-bearing trees and plants on the east coast.

This year, they are back with a vengeance. Agricultural departments in Pennsylvania and New Jersey estimate 500% and 1000% increases, respectively, in the spotted lanternfly population. Projections by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences show the spotted lanternfly could cause a loss of $324 million to the state’s economy and eliminate close to 3,000 jobs.

The Spotted Lanternfly

While these animals aren’t dangerous to humans, they can be devastating to a wide variety of agriculture and produce. Lanternflies are attracted to grapevines, figs, hops, avocados, and many other fruit-bearing plants. After infestation, they secrete a sweet and sticky substance that adheres to the plants. This secretion is attractive to a type of black mold that can be harmful and even cause plant death.

The spotted lanternfly reproduces by laying dozens of eggs at a time. There is no population control because this species has no natural predators. Without human interference, the lanternfly population has grown exponentially.

At least 26 counties in Pennsylvania are under a strict spotted lanternfly quarantine to stop the spread of the pest. Any business that moves goods through one of the quarantined areas must be permitted to do so. Penn State Extension offers a free training course through which you can receive a permit.

Manager’s Responsibility

At least one person in your company must complete the course and pass the knowledge along to the rest of the fleet. Any company that operates out of compliance could face a civil penalty of up to $20,000. The free course is available here and teaches:

– The importance of stopping spotted lanternfly
– Lifecycle and habits of SLF
– How quarantine zones work
– Find and destroy SLF
– Quarantine zone best practices

Each unit of your fleet who moves through one of the quarantined zones must be properly trained and carry a permit. Through the Infinit-I Workforce Solutions platform, you can assign custom training to all your drivers and issue their permits. Drivers can access that permit at any time through their resource library, should they be asked to provide it to enforcement officers.

Trucker’s Responsibility

Especially when crossing state or county lines, truck drivers should take special action to ensure they are not contributing to the spread of the insect. Instruct your drivers to complete a thorough search for spotted lanternfly nests on their equipment during their pre- and post-trip inspection.

Infinit-I Workforce Solutions offers comprehensive training content on how to manage spotted lanternfly occurrences. Current clients already have access to these materials and it’s ready to “plug and play” with their current training system.

Lanternfly resources and topics we cover:

– Destroying Spotted Lanternfly Egg Masses
– Development Stages of the Spotted Lanternfly
– How to Comply with Spotted Lanternfly Regulations Fact Sheet
– How to Identify and Destroy Spotted Lanternfly Egg Masses
– If You See A Spotted Lanternfly, Report It!
– Lanternfly Quarantine Zone Map
– Spotted Lanternfly Permit Training (Parts 1-5)
– Spotted Lanternfly Training Quiz

The US Department of Agriculture recommends destroying spotted lanternfly egg masses if found. Spotted lanternflies make nests on hard surfaces, your drivers should thoroughly check their wheel wells, bumpers, and in/around trailers. The nests, which can resemble tree bark, can be removed easily with any tool with a rigid surface. Scrape the egg mass into a plastic bag filled with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer to eliminate the offspring.

We Can Help!

Remember, the state of Pennsylvania requires fleets to carry permits with them throughout the quarantined areas after proper training. We must do our part to suppress the expansion of the spotted lanternfly population.

For Current Infinit-I Workforce Solutions Clients:

Contact your Client Success Rep today to become spotted lanternfly certified and receive your fleet’s permits. Our content catalog has all the training you need to become a certified spotted lanternfly trained fleet.

For Future Infinit-I Workforce Solutions Clients:

Receive your spotted lanternfly training and certification today for free! We are offering a 30-day complimentary trial, no obligation. We can help you choose your designated spotted lanternfly trainer and have you certified by end of business today.

Click here for information about how to receive your fleets certification and permits absolutely free.