Increasing Awareness of Spotted Lanternfly Prevention and Eradication in the State of Delaware

About the Community

The State of Delaware is approximately 1,982 square miles with a population of 1 million people.  It is divided into three counties: New Castle, Kent, and Sussex.  Delaware is home to the Port of Wilmington, a 308-acre full-service port that has an annual import/export cargo of more than 6 tons through approximately 400 vessels.  Interstate 95 also runs through New Castle County. These features make Delaware a focal point where the spotted lanternfly can easily “hitch-hike” for long distances in or out of the state, or even out of the country.

The University of Delaware’s Cooperative Extension, the Delaware Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have issued various guidelines and/or quarantine restrictions dealing with the spotted lanternfly.  However, residents of Delaware are generally unaware of steps they can take to prevent the spread of this insect. Because Delaware’s agricultural industry can be impacted by the spread of the spotted lanternfly, the State has both an economic and environmental incentive to prevent its spread. Currently, there are no guidelines or protocols that address the steps that residents can take to eradicate the spotted lanternfly.

Concerned citizens of Delaware seek scientific help to develop and implement an invasive insect prevention program to target the spotted lanternfly. This program relies upon public awareness and education about the spotted lanternfly at all stages of the insect’s development. This project will engage the community and public awareness through several targeted demographics as an important element of the project’s outreach component.

About the Project

Although Delaware and surrounding states have issued spotted lanternfly quarantine orders, many residents are unaware of the role they can play in preventing the spread of this insect.  Unlike other insect species, there are very few pest control methods that specifically target the spotted lanternfly.  The public is unaware of preventative measures that can be taken such as removing these insects from their vehicles (as they “hitch-hike” to new locations), removing the spotted lanternfly host tree Ailanthus altissima, also known as the “tree of heaven”, and eradicating the egg masses of this insect by scraping them off surfaces and applying rubbing alcohol to kill the eggs so they don’t return the following spring.  Because these measures are generally unknown to the public, the spotted lanternfly continues to proliferate without any known predators in the continental United States.

Without broader community awareness, the public is unlikely to be successful at preventing further spread of the spotted lanternfly. The project involves:

1. Preparing a plan to eradicate this invasive insect species.
2. Identifying environmentally friendly actions residents can take to reduce or eliminate the spotted lanternfly.
3. Preparing instructional materials to promote these actions, through a comprehensive website, video clips, a YouTube channel, social media posts, and outreach to school-aged children.
4. Outreach to other industries and entities affected by the spotted lanternfly to promote partnership and community action.

Timeline and Milestones

This project is estimated to take approximately 16 months to complete.  A web developer has been identified, as well as a documentary filmmaker and editor.  The project can start when the scientist is available.

Key milestones:

1. Selection of scientist.
2. Determination of preventative methodology.
3. Actively work on an inventory of plant species that are targeted by the spotted lanternfly.
4. Identification of environmentally friendly actions that residents can take to reduce or eliminate the spotted lanternfly.
5. Preparation of the website, video clips and social media content.
6. Development of a public relations campaign to promote the project to the general public.
7. Presentation of this project to other industries and entities for partnership in eradicating the spotted lanternfly.

Community Lead

Catherine Damavandi serves on the Coordinating Council of the Green Party of Delaware.  She will serve as the primary point of contact.