A recent finding of spotted lanternfly in St. Catharines, Ontario, has raised concerns about the invasive insect’s potential arrival in Canada from the United States. Although there are no confirmed reproducing populations of spotted lanternfly in Canada, experts warn that this pest could severely impact vineyards, fruit trees, and hardwoods due to its feeding habits that can lead to the death of grapevines.
In a recent incident, Aidan Dagg, a resident of Ontario and a nursery inspector in St. Catharines, discovered a deceased spotted lanternfly and reported it on iNaturalist, a platform for sharing and identifying plant and animal species. This marked Dagg’s first encounter with the insect after years of monitoring.
According to Diana Mooij from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the spotted lanternfly poses a significant threat to various tree and plant species, particularly endangering the grape and wine industries. Upon Dagg’s alert, CFIA inspectors promptly investigated and recovered 12 dead adult spotted lanternflies from a shipment of planting pots imported from Pennsylvania.
Research scientist Amanda Roe emphasized that spotted lanternflies often travel in shipments and hitchhike on flat surfaces, such as vehicles returning from the U.S. Roe, working at Natural Resources Canada in Sault Ste. Marie, highlighted the insect’s ability to cling to moving vehicles at high speeds.
The spotted lanternfly was first detected in the U.S. in 2014 and has since spread to 19 states, causing significant economic losses if left uncontrolled. A study from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences estimated substantial economic damages in Pennsylvania, with potential losses reaching hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
Experts recommend vigilance in spotting and reporting spotted lanternflies, as the insect can survive in various temperatures and poses a persistent threat to agriculture and natural ecosystems.
