Tadiwos Abedje | tadiwos.abedje@wtop.com
The invasive insect species known as the spotted lanternfly has turned up in Loudoun County, Virginia.
It is a native insect to China and threatens many fruit crops and trees, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Officials say this invasive insect has previously been found in Pennsylvania and in other parts of Virginia such as Winchester, Charlottesville and Prince William County.
Virginia officials have been tracking the spotted lanternfly for over four years and anticipated the pest would spread to Loudoun County.
Residents who see spotted lanternflies are encouraged to take actions to slow the spread:
“Increased public awareness and vigilance is a critical tool in slowing the spread of this damaging insect,” said Beth Sastre, a horticulturist with the Virginia Cooperative Extension. “Because the spotted lanternfly’s appearance changes dramatically throughout its life cycle, we encourage residents to take the time to learn how to recognize the different stages and to take steps to remove the insect from their property.”
Tadi Abedje is a freelance digital writer/editor for WTOP. He was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Northern Virginia. Journalism has been his No. 1 passion since he was a kid and he is blessed to be around people, telling their stories and sharing them with the world.
tadiwos.abedje@wtop.com @realTadiAbedje
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