A recent discovery of spotted lanternflies in St. Catharines, Ontario, has reignited concerns about these destructive insects making their way into Canada from the United States. While no established populations of spotted lanternflies exist in Canada, experts warn that the invasive insect still poses a significant threat to vineyards, fruit trees, and hardwoods due to its feeding habits that can lead to the destruction of grapevines.
In a recent incident, an Ontario resident named Aidan Dagg found a deceased spotted lanternfly and documented it on iNaturalist, a platform for sharing and identifying plant and animal species. Dagg, who works as a nursery inspector in St. Catharines, had been monitoring for the insect for several years before this discovery marked his first encounter with it.
According to Diana Mooij from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the spotted lanternfly is capable of feeding on over 100 tree and plant species, posing a significant threat to the grape and wine industries. Following Dagg’s report to the CFIA, inspectors promptly responded and recovered 12 adult spotted lanternflies from the same shipment of imported planting pots from Pennsylvania that had been stored since the previous fall.
Research scientist Amanda Roe highlighted that spotted lanternflies often travel through shipments and can cling to flat surfaces like vehicles, particularly those returning from the U.S. Roe, who is associated with Natural Resources Canada, emphasized that these insects are adept hitchhikers, capable of holding onto vehicles and trains even at high speeds.
Notably, the spotted lanternfly was first detected in the U.S. in 2014, and it has since spread to 19 states, causing significant economic damage. A study by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences estimated substantial economic losses in Pennsylvania due to the invasion, with potential annual losses projected to reach hundreds of millions of dollars.
Melody Keena, a retired research entomologist, explained that warmer temperatures favor the proliferation of spotted lanternflies, enabling them to develop faster and accumulate resources for egg production. Despite the potential impact of winter conditions, Roe observed that the insect has shown resilience and continues to advance northwards in the U.S.
While the winter weather may not deter the spread of spotted lanternflies, the CFIA urges vigilance in spotting and reporting any sightings promptly. The agency advises individuals to capture any spotted lanternflies in sealable containers and report them without delay.