Hard enforcement’ for truckers in insect quarantine area starts May 1

Spotted lanternfly, an invasive species first discovered in 2014 in Berks County, Pennsylvania, has the potential to cause considerable damage to many valuable crops in Pennsylvania and beyond.

To stop its spread, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture issued a quarantine for counties where the presence of this pest has been confirmed. Businesses operating in the quarantine zone must have permits to move equipment and goods within and out of the zone. Unsure if your business or organization is required to carry permits? Check our online article for more information and examples of who is required to obtain a permit.

Penn State Extension and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture have developed this self-paced, online course to train designated employees how to comply with the quarantine. This course will teach the designated employees what they need to know about the spotted lanternfly through short, informative videos. They will learn the spotted lanternfly lifecycle and how to identify each life stage, what it likes to eat, and where it likes to lay its eggs. They will also learn how to find and destroy spotted lanternflies and their egg masses, best practices for working in the quarantine zone, and the best ways to eliminate spotted lanternfly from their property.

There are three sections in the course. Each section has a quiz at the end. Students will need to achieve a score greater than 70% on the quizzes in order to pass this course.

Once a designated employee passes this course, his or her company will receive spotted lanternfly permits for company vehicles. The designated employee must train fellow employees to work in the quarantine zone without inadvertently spreading these insects and endangering agriculture and commerce. Downloadable training materials, including PowerPoint presentations and fact sheets, are available in the course.

If you have questions about the permitting process, email the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: slfpermit@pa.gov. If you have difficulties accessing the online course, contact Customer Support.