Blue Marsh Recreation Area could hold the key to suppressing the spotted lanternfly.
Blue Marsh Lake is scene of testing of biological control methods
Six acres in a remote section of Blue Marsh Recreation Area could hold the key to suppressing the spotted lanternfly.
That’s where research aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of biological control methods against the invasive pest is underway.
The study — led by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Cornell University — will build on research the team conducted last year at Norristown Farm Park in Montgomery County.
The hope is that the research will lead to a environmentally friendly solution to suppressing the invasive insect on a large scale and will be made available for public use, said Heather Leach, spotted lanternfly extension associate at Penn State.
Leach said at Blue Marsh researchers are trying to answer questions about the best life stage to target the insect and what formulation is best. It can be made with oil or water. They will also be measuring the impact on pollinators, ground predators, wildlife and birds, too. It’s a largescale study that has been in the works for months.
“The reason we are being so in depth is that we want to make sure if this is something that works against the spotted lanternfly and that we have done due diligence that the environmental impact is very low,” Leach said.
Leach said the data from last year’s study at the Norristown Farm Park was “really promising.”
The results of that study suggested that biopesticides containing Beauveria bassiana — a native soil-borne fungus that attacks insects but is not harmful to birds and mammals, including humans — were effective in reducing spotted lanternfly populations.
On June 3, researchers published the results of the Norristown Farm Park and a smaller study at Penn State Berks in the journal, Environmental Entomology. Researchers pointed out challenges in counting the insects but urged more tests.
A single application of the fungi solution reduced fourth instar nymphs by 48% after 14 days. Applications of the fungi to adults in the same park resulted in 43% mortality after 14 days. Researchers also sprayed a variety of fungi formulas on potted grapes, all of which killed more than 90% of adults.
The spotted lanternfly, an insect from Asia, was discovered in North America in Berks County in 2014. The pest since has spread to at least 26 Pennsylvania counties. It also has been detected in New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.
The planthopper feeds on important agricultural commodities — including grapevines, fruit trees, nursery plants and hardwood timber — as well as plants in natural habitats, parks and backyards. Economists warn that the insect, if not contained, could drain Pennsylvania’s economy of at least $324 million annually and cause the loss of about 2,800 jobs.
“A top priority of our research team is to find an effective and environmentally sustainable form of management,” Leach said. “We recognize the urgency of the situation and the need to act quickly to stop this pest before it establishes throughout the rest of the mid-Atlantic and in other parts of the country.”
The bigger picture
The study will continue into the fall. The research will be contained to 6 acres, including state game lands, that are not typically frequented by park visitors, apart from seasoned hikers and hunters.
The scientists will treat select plots with biopesticides that contain Beauveria bassiana. The formulations are available commercially and are Environmental Protection Agency-approved, which means they have undergone rigorous reviews to ensure their safety, said Brian Walsh, an extension educator based in Berks County and a lead researcher on the project.
How lethal the fungi can be to the invasive insect was observed in 2018 by Bryan Lederer, assistant director of the Berks County Parks and Recreation Department, in the woods near Angora Fruit Farm.
He snapped photos on his cellphone and sent them to Leach at Penn State, which has been studying the sapsucking pest that is plaguing Pennsylvania.
Leach contacted experts at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., who determined that the insect kill could be a discovery that will help Pennsylvania control the invasive bug.
Dr. Ann Hajek and Eric
Clifton, the two Cornell researchers, determined two fungi native to Pennsylvania worked in tandem to kill a large population of spotted lanternflies. The discovery set researchers on a course to finding an environmentally friendly weapon to control the insects, which were found in District Township in 2014.
At Blue Marsh, researchers will compare the biopesticides against dinotefuran, the insecticide currently used by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in their fight against the pest.
Including dinotefuran in the study will allow researchers from Penn State’s Center for Pollinator Research to compare the effects of the biopesticides and dinotefuran on nontarget species, most notably pollinators.
Ground and aerial applications will target the different life stages of the spotted lanternfly. The sections of the park involved will be closed during times of applications; signage will be placed at key entry points 72 hours beforehand. The team will adhere to strict safety protocols, including COVID-19 mitigation measures.
Leach and Walsh thanked the Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District, which manages the 6,200acre park, for its cooperation.
“We are fortunate to have the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Pennsylvania Game Commission collaborating with us to make this research possible,” she said.
Right place, right time
Scott Sunderland, natural resource manager for Blue Marsh Lake, said the research fits with the mission at the site.
“One of our duties as land managers is invasive species management,” he said. “We have been aware of the spotted lanternfly at Blue Marsh Lake since 2017 and have been monitoring the population and how it impacts the quality of our natural resources and outdoor recreation activities. We believe research is essential to finding viable solutions to the spotted lanternfly problem.”
Brianna Treichler, Blue Marsh park ranger, said the facility had what researchers needed. The 6 acres are hedge row breaks where the invasive tree of heaven have taken root, which the lanternfly likes. And interns and staff will gain experience from helping with the project.
Officials said they were notifying residents living in the surrounding area, local officials, regulatory agencies and other key stakeholders. These groups and the public will be informed of the project’s status through media outreach, social media and on-site communications. She said everyone’s safety is paramount.
“The community here has been so supportive,” Leach said. “I think people really care about this landscape scale sustainable approach.”
Leach said those with questions about this study can contact her by email at BlueMarshSLF@psu.edu.
Project partners include the Army Corps of Engineers, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and the Penn State Berks campus.
More information on how to identify and control spotted lanternfly, how to report an infestation and how to comply with quarantine regulations is available on the Penn State Extension website at https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly.