Quarantine Issued in Delaware for the Spotted Lanternfly
On February 28, 2019, the DE Department of Agriculture signed Emergency Regulations for Spotted Lanternfly that has enacted a quarantine for this pest. Spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicata, is a threat to Delaware and the US, as it is a destructive, invasive plant hopper that attacks many hosts including forests, ornamental trees, orchards, hops, and grapes. This insect is detrimental to Delaware's agricultural industries, the environment, and residential areas.
The quarantine is in place to prevent the movement of spotted lanternfly in Delaware and the surrounding states and to eradicate and control the spotted lanternfly population currently present in the quarantined area. You may download a guide for residents or for more information on the state's efforts to locate and control the proliferation of this insect, visit https://agriculture.delaware.gov/plant-industries/spotted-lanternfly/.
The following zip codes in northern New Castle County have been quarantined in their entirety: 19702, 19703, 19707, 19711, 19801, 19802, 19803, 19805, 19807, 19809, 19810