The Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (VDACS) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are planning to conduct detection survey work and pesticide treatments in your area to detect and suppress the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula. SLF is an insect pest that was discovered in Frederick County in January 2018; this was just the second known detection of SLF in the U.S. The first occurrence of SLF in the U.S. occurred in Pennsylvania in 2014. SLF is a native insect of Southeast Asia and prefers feeding on Ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven), but will also feed on grapes, peaches, apples and hops. ft also has the potential to be a serious nuisance pest to homeowners when it is present in high numbers. While SLF will feed on a variety of plants, researchers believe it not only prefers Ailanthus but may require feeding on this tree in order to successfully reproduce.

This meeting is gear toward the land owners in the treatment area. Follow the link below to view the map.

Open Public Information Meeting
Thursday, June 14, 2018, 6-7:30 p.m.
Frederick County Administration Building, Board Room
107 N. Kent Street, Winchester, VA

Visit www.fcva.us/SLF for more information.