Thursday, December 9, 2021: Coming Soon to your Neighborhood: Get Ready for the Spotted Lanternfly

As part of a never-ending stream of invasive species arriving in the US, the spotted lanternfly is on the move in the eastern United States. Since it was first detected in Berks County, PA, in 2014, it has now been found in scores of counties in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana. Dr. Mike Raupp will explain how spotted lanternfly arrived in the US, key aspects of its movement and seasonal phenology, what plants are at risk and damage associated with lanternfly feeding on shade and fruit trees and explore integrated approaches (IPM) to thwart this pest including mechanical, biological, and insecticidal tactics regionally and around the home.

Mike Raupp is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Maryland and an award winning author, scholar, and communicator. His professional and extension achievements include more than 250 publications and 1300 presentations. A regular guest on NPR and PBS, Mike has appeared on all major television and radio networks in this country and several abroad. His “Bug of the Week” website, www.bugoftheweek.com and Youtube channel www.youtube.com/user/BugOfTheWeek demystify insect behavior and natural history to tens of thousands of viewers weekly in more than 200 countries around the world. He has received more than a dozen international, national, and regional awards for his writing, scholarship, and scientific outreach. His most recent book “26 Things that Bug Me” introduces youngsters to the wonders of insects and natural history while “Managing Insect and Mites on Woody Landscape Plants” is a standard for the arboricultural industry.