Westchester County intensifies battle against lanternflies
Westchester County has recently acquired 10 additional specialized vacuums, which they are lending to municipalities in the region to aid in lanternfly removal.
More Stories
Lanternflies have been a persistent issue throughout the Hudson Valley this summer.
To combat this, Westchester County is ramping up its efforts.
Earlier in August, News 12 highlighted the infestation of lanternflies in the region and the innovative approach taken by the Westchester County Parks Department.
MORE:
Hudson Valley battles spotted lanternfly infestation
They deployed high-powered vacuums to mitigate the spotted lanternfly population in Westchester parks, yielding positive results.
The invasive pests are typically found on the Tree of Heaven, prevalent in parks across our area.
Westchester County has recently acquired 10 additional specialized vacuums, which they are lending to municipalities in the region to aid in lanternfly removal.
These vacuums include a QR code for data collection to track the bugs' exact locations.
While lanternflies die off in the winter, their eggs can survive, resembling splotches of mud or cement. Each lanternfly can lay up to 50 eggs, making their eradication challenging.
Next month, be on the lookout for these splotches, which you can find between October and March, adhered to trees, houses, or cars. Remove them by scraping into a plastic bag filled with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer, or carefully smash them to ensure they burst.
