SLFs, and the damage they cause to plants, can pose both economic and ecological risks. The insect was first detected in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014; it is now in 19 states and the District of Columbia, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“Our biggest concern here in New York, with regard to [the] spotted lanternfly, is the potential impact on the grape industry,” Logue said.
The state started using drones to detect invasive species more than two years ago, focusing first on getting pilots trained and certified and standardizing use processes. Today, the devices are used in SLF detection, Michael Formichelli, AGM horticultural inspector and agency GIS representative, said — and act as an “extension of the inspector,” enabling safe surveying in areas such as the upper canopy of trees, which historically would have required bringing in climbers.
Because spotted lanternflies often spread by hitching themselves to things, the drones also support responsible biosecurity practices by enabling detection from a distance.
Nearly 35,000 constituents are interacting with the reporting tool each year, Logue said, noting the technology has reduced demand on staff. Prior to using the reporting tool, pest reporting happened via a phone call to an 800 number.
Public reports have a big impact on the state government’s understanding of where these insects are located, and as such, education plays an important role in monitoring and management. The state is working with the Integrated Pest Management Program at Cornell University and an extension in New York, through which informational webinars and training aim to inform the public on reporting sightings, preventing human-assisted spread and managing expectations, Logue said.
Officials are also exploring how other technologies such as multispectral sensors could expand detection capabilities, Formichelli said.
“Having a good view and strong data as far as where [the] spotted lanternfly is present and where it’s not present really helps us to plan out our inspection resources and where we’re going to have to concentrate on any given year,” Logue said.
Invasive species management does not happen in a vacuum, as insects can easily be transported over state lines via exports and travel. The USDA is a key partner in invasive species management, offering technical assistance and funding. Officials also work with invasive species management teams in other states to ensure responsible product shipments, Logue said. For example, New York ships a lot of apples and honeybee colonies to states like California, which requires consideration for how pests can spread.
In California, which as a state is the fourth largest economy in the world, its farmers produce 99 percent of the table grapes grown in the U.S., per the USDA. The state produced more than $60 billion in agriculture commodities last year; Napa County alone produced more than $1 billion, according to Andre Napolitano, Napa County deputy agricultural commissioner. SLFs bring an agricultural risk and an economic one, too.
“Prevention is the name of the game,” he said, underlining that there is no better way to manage invasive species than by preventing their arrival. SLF populations are not currently present in California, but officials have been tracking and monitoring the threat since it was detected in the U.S. in 2014. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) monitors and inspects materials coming across the border from areas known to harbor pests, and agricultural commissioners in each county support pest management.
County officials use tools from Esri like Survey123, Field Maps and Workforce Dashboards to keep track of pests that do currently exist in California, such as the glassy-winged sharpshooter, which was first reported there in 1994.
Prior to using these tools, everything was done on paper, and the technology makes processes much more efficient, both for an updated view of pests across the state and sharing information, according to Christopher K. Sakakihara, Napa County agricultural/weights and measures inspector.
The county has done digital tracking for SLFs for several years despite not yet having any established populations, according to Sakakihara. In case SLFs are detected, CDFA has an emergency pest response protocol in place to eradicate the insect.
“When the pest is fully established, we shift from eradication into management,” Napolitano said, noting there are instances when eradication is not possible. Officials monitor the existence of invasive species in the state — and the host plants that attract insects like SLFs, primarily grapevines and trees of heaven.
Napa County partners with the University of California on tracking and using digital data to prevent future introductions, Napolitano said. As with New York, education and outreach play a key role in California, via public-facing tools and story maps: “Pest awareness is the first step in pest prevention.”
The U.S. Congress introduced legislation earlier this year to raise awareness about SLFs and their threat, with the bill’s namesake taking inspiration from a common slogan about managing the insect: “If you see it, squish it.”
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify details on California’s agricultural production.
