The warm weather has officially returned, and summer is approaching, which means that the spotted lantern fly has begun to hatch and return to the Philadelphia area.

With the smooth progress of incubation in southeastern Pennsylvania, the state Ministry of Agriculture Efforts are being stepped up to curb the spread of invasive pests by implementing contact spraying.

Workers have begun to use insecticide sprays to treat traffic rights of way, including railways and interstate highways, which can kill insects everywhere.

Contact spraying is taking place in the southeastern and central-southern areas of the state, where the spotted lantern fly hatching has begun and is further away than other areas. According to data from the Department of Agriculture, the hatching rate of lantern fly is about 50% in Pennsylvania’s southernmost county where insect populations are known.

After 75% to 100% of the insects hatch, insecticide sprays are most effective. Once the incubation progresses, other areas of Pennsylvania will begin to be exposed to spraying.

Because spotted lantern flies move mainly by vehicles coming from infected areas, workers are focusing their contact spraying efforts on traffic rights of way.

Department of Agriculture personnel and contractors are using backpack sprayers and vehicle-mounted spray equipment to spray pesticides on railways and highways across the state.

This insecticide with bifenthrin as the main ingredient has been proven safe and has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. However, residents on the state’s hypersensitivity register will be notified before spraying in their area.

The Ministry of Agriculture stated that other factors such as weather, location and the health of the surrounding natural ecosystems may limit the use of sprays. For example, bifenthrin is toxic to fish, so you will not spray insecticides near water. It is also not sprayed around flowering plants to protect pollinators.

The Ministry of Agriculture stated that researchers and staff will conduct environmental sampling throughout the process to monitor the impact of sprays on water, soil and sensitive people to avoid any unintended consequences.

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said: “The spotted lantern fly threatens our quality of life outdoors and destroys valuable products that provide nutrition to our economy.” “We are working hard and strategically Control this pest in a way that shares the safety of people, pollinators, plants, and animals that threaten the environment.”

Residents can buy pesticides containing bifenthrin in a variety of brand products.For more information on approved insecticide sprays for the eradication of spotted lantern fly, please visit PennState Extension website.

The state also recommends that residents Safe and effective trap Can eliminate a large number of spotted lantern flies without harming small animals or pollinators.

For more information on how to build your own low-cost trap using common household items, see PennState Extension website. You can buy cheap traps at agricultural and gardening stores.

Spotted lantern flies usually linger in the area until the weather starts to cool in autumn. Residents are strongly advised to trap or squash them as much as possible and check their cars before departure to ensure that no one is trying to hitchhike.

Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties are thought to have widespread spotted lantern fly infections, according to Ministry of Agriculture. All five counties belong to 34 counties in Pennsylvania and are quarantined statewide to control the spread of spotted lantern flies.