WEST SENECA, N.Y. — The Town of West Seneca is asking residents to be on the lookout for the Spotted Lanternfly.
The Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive species and a threat to fruit crops and trees.
West Seneca officials posted on their Facebook page that one was recently spotted in the town near Sunshine Park.
According to the USDA, the Spotted Lanternfly is native to China and was first detected in the United States in 2014 in Pennsylvania.
They say the insect feeds on fruit, ornamental and woody trees, with the tree-of-heaven being one of their preferred hosts.
If the Spotted Lanternfly spreads in the U.S., it could damage grape, orchard, and logging industries.
- If you spot one, you should notify the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets by following these steps:
- Take a photo
- Collect a sample and place it in a freezer or in a jar with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer
- Contact the SLF responders
- After you have reported SLF in your area and collected a sample, you should kill any additional SLF you see by stepping on it or crushing it.