Director and Public Health Nurse Anne Marie Fleming would like to share information about an invasive insect following the presumed presence of a spotted lanternfly in North Attleborough.
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) notified the town that spotted lanternflies are either present or suspected in the area based on past sightings. The MDAR is currently working to identify the extent of its presence in the region. However, sightings have been reported in the neighboring communities of Seekonk and Attleboro and north of I-295, around half a mile from the Rhode Island border.
According to the MDAR, this invasive insect attacks grapevines, hops, and fruit trees, causing damage by feeding on their sap. It does not bite, sting, or otherwise harm people or pets.
To assist community members with spotted lanternfly management, the Health Department would like to share the following information courtesy of the MDAR:
- Check trees and other items on your property that could have SLF adults, nymphs, or egg masses.
- Avoid parking under infested trees and inspect your vehicle before leaving your property.
- Identify your property’s preferred host plants of spotted lanternflies (tree-of-heaven, grape, black walnut, birch, maple). Check them regularly for signs of spotted lanternflies, including egg masses.
- Use circle traps or sticky bands if you have spotted lanternflies on your property.
- If you see small numbers of spotted lanternfly adults or nymphs, especially on vehicles or materials being moved out of an infested area, squish or smash the insects to destroy them.
- Scrape and squish any egg masses off of trees.
Please note that removing host trees is not likely to permanently reduce levels of SLF on your property. If you do decide to remove a tree of heaven, an herbicide must be used to kill the root system.
If you find spotted lanternfly or spotted lanternfly egg masses, please take a photo and report it to the MDAR’s online database.
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