New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets officials, alongside experts from Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Integrated Pest Management program, will provide an update on the invasive Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) Thursday.
The event will cover the state’s ongoing efforts to combat this destructive pest, which feeds on more than 70 plant species, including economically vital crops like grapes. Since its discovery in Staten Island in August 2020, SLF has spread throughout New York City boroughs, Long Island, and parts of upstate New York, including the Finger Lakes, Ithaca, Binghamton, Albany, Syracuse, and Buffalo.
Officials will also share practical advice for residents on managing SLF on their properties, explaining the pest’s life cycle and what to expect as adult lanternflies emerge this summer and continue through the fall and winter seasons.
The Department said it is actively working with state and federal partners to control the spread of SLF and protect New York’s agricultural economy.
