Public will play a key role in fight against spotted lanternfly, says CFIA

The spotted lanternfly remains a concern for those in Ontario’s grape and wine industry. Populations have yet to be established in the province, though the invasive pest can be found just over the border. ~ Government of Canada photo

By Luke Edwards

The arrival of the spotted lanternfly in Ontario remains a question of when, not if, though efforts by industry and government officials aims to make the when as far into the future as possible.

An invasive species that has spread throughout several states south of the border, the spotted lanternfly can cause significant damage to vineyards, with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Carla Cassone saying yield losses of up to 90 per cent have been reported.

“This pest is annoying,” the CFIA operational manager for the plant specialist unit in Ontario told a group during a session at last month’s Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention.

While populations can be found near the Canada-U.S. border, including in counties in New York State, they have yet to establish here. Though the key word there is yet.

“It’s truly not a matter of if it comes, it’s a matter of when,” Cassone said, adding the pest has continued to spread despite treatment efforts in the U.S.

Officials have developed protocols and regulations to delay its arrival as much as possible and keep it contained when it does arrive.

A CFIA directive issued last fall described efforts being taken.

“The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has implemented phytosanitary measures on nursery stock and logs of deciduous species with bark to mitigate the risk of its entry and spread in Canada,” the directive said. “The CFIA continues to focus on outreach strategies to raise awareness of pest identification and mitigation strategies with importers, the transportation sector and the general public.”

“The pathways of introduction are numerous,” said Julie Holmes, a plant health survey biologist.

Once the pest is detected, officials will create a regulated zone, determine its distribution and work to figure out if eradication is possible.

Diana Mooij, a program specialist in the invasive alien species section at the CFIA, said “the public will be essential in finding this pest early.”

There were 26 survey sites in Ontario last year, with no detection. Holmes said they plan on having another 26 survey sites this year.

Cassone tried to reduce concerns from farmers who are worried about what happens if they find their farms in a regulated zone.

“I’d say shutting a farm down is a strong word,” she said, adding they’ll still be able to operate but will have rules to follow.

Spotted lanternfly is native to Asia, and can be found in China, India, Taiwan and Vietnam. It was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, and populations close to the Canadian border have been found in Buffalo and Pontiac, Michigan since the fall of 2022.

“Spotted lanternfly is a large, visually distinctive planthopper which can feed on a wide variety of hosts, such as tree-of-heaven, grapevines, maple, walnut, and other hardwood tree species,” last fall’s directive said. “Given its wide host range, it is predicted to be a major pest for Canada’s grape and wine industry with the potential to negatively impact the nursery, fruit tree and forestry sectors.”