Here's why we don't want spotted lanternflies in California

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- If they were to ever make it to California, the invasive spotted lanternfly have the potential to wipe out the state's grape industry.

Earlier this spring, California narrowly escaped bringing in spotted lanternfly eggs on an art installation that was headed for the Golden State. The egg masses were intercepted at the Truckee Border Protection Station, originating in New York and bound for Sonoma County.

The East Coast knows them well. Spotted lanternfly quarantines are currently in place in 17 states, mostly on the East Coast.

The invasive pests from Asia were first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, and have left destruction in their wake. They are not only pesky insects as they reproduce quickly; they pose a major threat to an area's ecosystem health and agricultural economy, including apple orchards and vineyards, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

California is the No. 1 wine producer in the entire country, and the No. 4 producer of wine in the world behind Italy, France and Spain, according to the California Association of Winegrape Growers. Across the state, wine grapes are grown on 608,000 acres in 49 of 58 counties. 

The Golden State is also a big producer of strawberries, tomatoes, carrots, almonds, pistachios, and lettuce -- just some of their most valued agriculture commodities, the California Department of Food and Agriculture reports. But some of those crops that the state relies on are the very food for spotted lanternflies.

According to the state department of food and agriculture, spotted lanternflies feed on plants like grape, hop, apple, stone fruit, maple, poplar, walnut, willow and the tree of heaven. 

When the insects feed, they suck sap from stems and branches. This can weaken the plant and contribute to its death, the state department of food and agriculture says. Although this feeding is damaging to plants, the only plants it is known to kill are grapevines, the tree of heaven and black walnut saplings, PennState Extension reports.

The feeding from the invasive insects can cause the plant to ooze or weep, causing a fermented odor, the state department of food and agriculture says. The insects excrete large amounts of fluid called honeydew, which promotes mold growth and attracts other insects.

The invasive insects spread rapidly when introduced into new areas and can lay eggs on nearly any surface, including vehicles, trailers, outdoor equipment and patio furniture, according to the state department of food and agriculture.

No live spotted lanternflies have ever been found in the environment in California, the state department of food and agriculture says. But over the past few years, multiple dead spotted lanternflies have been intercepted in airplane shipments as well as at border stations.

A state exterior quarantine has been in place in California since 2021, which prohibits the introduction of the spotted lanternfly into the state.

Invasive species are particularly a cause for concern because they are able to invade quickly and successfully as they have no naturalized predators. 

As a state or county, you don't want to be under a Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine. Here's why.

Anyone transporting goods from a quarantined area to a non-quarantined area has to comply with the quarantine order, undergo training and obtain a permit to move goods and equipment. However, the exact rules vary by state.

When a quarantine order is in place, it prohibits the movement of spotted lanternflies in any living stage, including egg masses, nymphs, and adults, and regulates the movement of items that could harbor the insect -- like landscaping waste, firewood, grapevines, packing materials, mowers, grills, fire pits, mobile homes, patio furniture, along with any equipment or vehicles that are not kept in a garage.

Violations of a SLF quarantine could result in criminal or civil penalties and/or fines.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has tips on what to look for, how to prevent the pest and how it is treated. California residents can report any SLF finds to the CDFA Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899. Report a pest online here.

A quarantine is only put in place in an area when evidence of reproduction is found. So it's important to stay vigilant and to keep an eye out for the colorful insects and to destroy them if you see one by stomping or squishing it.