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Concern about lantern flies at Fall Hershey

starfireelvis

By starfireelvis
in Hershey Meet

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starfireelvis 2,500+ Points

starfireelvis

Posted
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I don’t know if this is appropriate; if not, please delete and advise.  But it is a legitimate topic of discussion, as it was on nearly everyone’s mind (and of concern) last October at the Fall Hershey event.

 

Good Lord willing, I will be 60 by the time Fall Hershey arrives this year, but in all of my 59 previous years, I had never heard of, much less seen, these nuisance moths or whatever that are called “lantern flies” until last fall.  And these pains in the rear ends were EVERYWHERE—including on the show field, to the extent that I had to keep my windows up on my car and my trunk and hood closed the entire day, following judging.   It wasn’t even five minutes until my vehicle was judged when someone looking at my car noticed one of them on the carpet in front of my front seat.  They were all over the swap meet area as well.

 

I am not posting this to discourage or scare anyone off from attending, but seeing as we have several months before the big show, perhaps some preventive action can be taken to reduce or eliminate this not so small nuisance.

 

I just want for everyone to be able to enjoy the wonderful event we all know and love without this being the topic on everyone’s mind this fall.

 

Again, if this is being addressed, let us know, and if it not appropriate to discuss here, at least the word has been spoken and action can be taken. Thank you.

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greenie 10,000+ Points

greenie

Posted
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Hmmm, I spent the whole week there and only saw them in front of the Giant Center. Chances are they will have subsided by October. If you must worry about something, pick left over Atlantic hurricanes. They are more likely to rain on our parade. 

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The 55er 10,000+ Points

The 55er

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Here in central PA lanternflies are everywhere from the backyards to the parks to the downtown streets from mid-summer to about the first Fall frost. There were plenty of them in my swap meet spaces. I don't think anything can be done about them, we just try to step on 'em or smash 'em with a flyswatter whenever possible. Hopefully in a few years they'll be gone. 

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Bloo 25,000+ Points

Bloo

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2 hours ago, The 55er said:

Hopefully in a few years they'll be gone. 

Is there seriously some possibility of that? I can't imagine how you would begin to eradicate them, or even stop the spread. I looked my car over real good as I drove west from PA hoping not to bring any back with me.

 

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tcslr 5,000+ Points

tcslr

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Lantern flies are invasive and detrimental to fruit crops - especially pome fruits and grapes.  Mr Bloo is spot on.   Legally, ( not sure how it could be enforced) if one travels in a quarantine area and then leaves, an inspection of the vehicle is necessary to avoid transporting them to other areas.  The legal authority is the Dept of Ag in this case - they want to protect - as long as possible - the spread.

It is also just smart.

 

Interestingly, West Nile Virus spread across US followed the interstates - or rather the positive reports very closely were aligned to the interstate system.  It was hypothesized that 'hitchhikers' especially on trucks were the vector. 

 

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dl456 5,000+ Points

dl456

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Please check all your packages and vehicle before leaving for home and kill them on site.

These s.o.b.'s are spreading rapidly and likely nothing can be done but we have to try.

We killed several clinging to the motorhome leaving Hershey last year.

In Ohio now only several counties away. We have yet to recover from the emerald ash borer which decimated our forests.

To keep it car related, we need ash wood to rebuild our antique car bodies.

Do what you can.

Dennis

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Turbinator 10,000+ Points

Turbinator

Posted
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When the flies, mosquitoes, flying stinging varments become pesky I take off my shoes and socks. The insects disappear or curl up and die all around. Fortunately, only the insects are affected. Folks sit right down beside me and do not say a word. Matter of fact in really bad cases of mosquito infestation I take off my shoes and socks and draw a crowd of people.

My car is classified in 25 F. If you see a fellow sitting by his car barefoot stop by and sit a spell.

Turbinator

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Turbinator 10,000+ Points

Turbinator

Posted
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On 6/25/2023 at 8:44 PM, topblissgt said:

I dont remember seeing any on the show field last year. We had a car there too

They sure as heck could have had some of those portable toilets spread a little more. AND a few more liquid and food vendors spread out. I had a car there as well. It was a gorgeous day.

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TAKerry 25,000+ Points

TAKerry

Posted
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The red lantern fly started in the summer as one part of their life cycle. They were literally everywhere last year. Could not take 5 steps without seeing a hundred! I have yet to see ONE this year. There was a lot of press about them as well. Havent heard anything either. Hopefully they didnt survive the winter.

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Walt G 25,000+ Points

Walt G

Posted
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Any suggestions to help those who attend Hershey and have not experienced the lantern flies before in the possible quantity that can occur? Anything to do, long sleeves, , a spray on arms, clothes like you can do for mosquitos?  Just want people attending for the first time to be prepared for anything to make the once a year Hershey extravaganza the best it can be.

( please don't say eat more chocolate!!)  Maybe swat them away with the show /fl;ea market program?  Hey a new souvenir - a Hershey car show lantern fly swatter- with a year on it so you can get to collect one each year from now on. 🤩🙃

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Matt Harwood 25,000+ Points

Matt Harwood

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Do lantern flies actually do anything? They seem to be the most incompetent bugs ever created. I watched them constantly flying into the lamp posts and tree trunks and then crashing to the ground. They don't bite or sting. They just kind of sit around and when they fly, they do it slowly and erratically. Nobody's in any danger unless you're a plant.

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Ray62 1,000+ Points

Ray62

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Unfortunately the Spotted Lantern Fly is an invasive pest that is quite destructive to various plants and trees, per the USDA website:

 

The Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is native to China and was first detected in Pennsylvania in September 2014. Spotted lanternfly feeds on a wide range of fruit, ornamental and woody trees, with tree-of-heaven being one of the preferred hosts. Spotted lanternflies are invasive and can be spread long distances by people who move infested material or items containing egg masses. Juvenile spotted lanternflies, known as nymphs, and adults prefer to feed on the invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) but also feed on a wide range of crops and plants, including grapes, apples, hops, walnuts and hardwood trees.
 

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Ray62 1,000+ Points

Ray62

Posted
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41 minutes ago, PhillyFordGuy said:

I envy those for whom this is a top concern.

For someone who makes their living operating an orchard or a vineyard, these invasive pests are a top concern, and they can be spread easily when vehicles, products, equipment, etc. are moved from infected to uninfected areas.

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PhillyFordGuy 250+ Points

PhillyFordGuy

Posted
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22 minutes ago, Ray62 said:

For someone who makes their living operating an orchard or a vineyard, these invasive pests are a top concern, and they can be spread easily when vehicles, products, equipment, etc. are moved from infected to uninfected areas.

Fair enough, Ray. I guess I learned something there. Sorry if I woke up a bit snarky today.

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Ray62 1,000+ Points

Ray62

Posted
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56 minutes ago, PhillyFordGuy said:

Fair enough, Ray. I guess I learned something there. Sorry if I woke up a bit snarky today.

No worries PhillyFordGuy, we all have mornings like that. I just want to make sure everyone understands that for the farmer they are a big concern and that we can all help by making sure we don't accidently transport them with us when we leave Hershey to travel back home. 

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Walt G 25,000+ Points

Walt G

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OK< when we are returning form Hershey before we leave what is the best way to make sure that there are none accumulated on our vehicles? try to get to a service area that has a air hose to use to possibly blow out at the undersides of the fenders? or ....

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Ray62 1,000+ Points

Ray62

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Walt,

 

Here is a link to the PA Department of Agriculture information on the Spotted Lantern Fly. My understanding is that you should look over your vehicle, trailer, etc. before leaving the area and just squash the buggers if you see them. It will take some extra time before you get on the road home, but the farmers in your home state will appreciate your effort. I can't imagine what the potential damage could be if these things spread across the country. All we can do is do our best not to hasten their spread. 

 

https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/PlantIndustry/Entomology/spotted_lanternfly/Pages/default.aspx

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Walt G 25,000+ Points

Walt G

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Ray,

Thanks. I live on long island east of NY city and my son says we have them here already - I haven't seen any. There are still farms on long island but mostly on the eastern end 60+ miles east of us. I appreciate the link you listed very much.

Walt

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pkhammer 10,000+ Points

pkhammer

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Last year after loading my enclosed trailer I tossed a bug fogger into it before I closed the door. Of course I'm just hauling used parts so no harm. I might not want to do that if I were hauling a nice car! I figure any on the exterior of the vehicle will likely not make it very far unless maybe they get under the hood. Not sure what to do about that.

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DrumBob 2,500+ Points

DrumBob

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I've seen them all over the area here in Northwestern NJ. I was playing an outdoor gig a few weeks ago, and they were landing on my cymbals mid-song. I try to kill them if I see them on the ground, but they hop away quickly. 

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starfireelvis 2,500+ Points

starfireelvis

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Posted (edited)

Thanks for all of the updates.   Keeping my fingers crossed that these suckers stay away from Fall Hershey.   A friend of mine who lives about 20 miles from there says he’s only seen one so far; however, they must be all over the Pittsburgh area, as I’ve seen three memes regarding their plentitude over there.  Supposedly they’re supposed to be in Ohio as well, but I have yet to see a one of them where I live (Canton area)…

Edited by starfireelvis
Correct grammar (see edit history)
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John348 25,000+ Points

John348

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Posted
On 7/13/2023 at 2:30 PM, BuickTom87 said:

I have yet to see any of these in nyc or Long Island maybe soon. I guess it’s a good thing 

They have been on the North Shore of Nassau for the past two months. and in The Bronx as well.

And Elvis you have a very Happy 60th Birthday

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