An infestation of the spotted lanternfly in Bridgewater was confirmed by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources on Monday, Jan. 26. The Town of Bridgewater is warning residents and business owners of the potential impact. (Photo Courtesy the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources)
BRIDGEWATER — The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has confirmed the presence of an invasive insect known as the spotted lanternfly in Bridgewater.
MDAR provided the Town with the results of a preliminary survey this week, confirming an ongoing infestation. The survey was conducted after reports of spotted lanternfly activity in a neighboring community indicated that egg masses were also present in Bridgewater.
Because only a preliminary survey has been completed, MDAR has not yet determined the full extent of the infestation.
Residents may see MDAR and U.S. Department of Agriculture surveyors periodically inspecting trees throughout the winter as they continue to assess the situation.
Those who live, work and visit Bridgewater are encouraged to report any sightings of the spotted lanternfly. Adult lanternflies are about an inch long, with grayish-tan wings covered in black spots and bright red underwings visible during flight.
Sightings can be reported and additional information found at mass.gov/slf.
In addition to reporting sightings of the spotted lanternfly, residents and businesses are asked to destroy the invasive pest when possible. Methods may include squishing the insect, as well as crushing their eggs, and placing them in a container with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer if possible. MDAR provides a best practices checklist for how to keep the pest from spreading throughout the community.
Along with attacking grapevines, as well as other types of plants like tree-of-heaven and maple trees, adult spotted lanternflies can interfere with outdoor recreation when infestations reach peak levels, due to the insect’s swarming behavior in late summer and fall.
However, MDAR clarified that the spotted lanternfly does not bite or sting. But they are a nuisance in large numbers in areas where people congregate, and they cover anything they are on with a sticky, sugary waste product known as honeydew.
A full description of the invasive sap-feeding insect from Asia can be found on the spotted lanternfly website operated by the Massachusetts Natural Resources Collaborations: massnrc.org/pests/linkeddocuments/SLFminiposter.pdf.
Guides on how to identify the spotted lanternfly are also available in Portuguese and Spanish.
Anyone who sees a spotted lanternfly can report them and send photographs to the Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project, which is maintained by MDAR staff. The spotted lanternfly report form is available online at massnrc.org/pests/slf.
For additional information and images, go to the MDAR YouTube channel, where MDAR has published a series of animated Public Service Announcements about the spotted lanternfly.
MDAR states that while it is working to slow the spread of spotted lanternflies, evidence from infestations in other areas of the country shows that they cannot be eradicated.
“We’d like to encourage our community residents and businesses to review the information and educational resources provided by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources about the spotted lanternfly,” said Town Manager Casanova-Davis. “We will continue to share updates as new information becomes available.”
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Those who live, work and visit Bridgewater are encouraged to report any sightings of the spotted lanternfly. Adult lanternflies are about an inch long, with grayish-tan wings covered in black spots and bright red underwings visible during flight. (Photo Courtesy the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources)
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