The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has notified the Dudley Agricultural Advisory Commission that their survey team followed up on reports and confirmed that an infestation of the invasive insect species Spotted Lanternfly has been located in Dudley.

Residents and municipal staff may see surveyors from MDAR and/or the USDA checking trees in town to determine the extent of the infestation.

The Spotted Lanternfly damages plants and trees by piercing the bark and sucking the sap.

This pest has been found on nearly 100 different types of plants and trees. They include birch, black walnut, poplar, tree of heaven, Asiatic bittersweet, highbush blueberry, lilac, mulberry, rose, staghorn sumac, sycamore, willow, Virginia creeper, apple trees, peach trees, and maple trees.

The Spotted Lanternfly may also interfere with outdoor recreation if the infestations reach high levels. Adult Spotted Lanternflies may swarm in late summer and fall. The insects do not bite or sting but are known to be a nuisance when they gather in large numbers and emit a sticky, sugary waste product called honeydew.

To report a Spotted Lanternfly sighting, go to: massnrc.org/pests/slfreport.aspx

More information on ways to manage an infestation: massnrc.org/pests/linkeddocuments/SLFMgmtGuideMA.pdf