<html><head></head><body><div style="font-family:courier new, courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif" size="3"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.466667px;">Thoughts on this article? My two questions are if there are Eastern North American relatives to this insect and what is the specific location where it was introduced?</span></font></div><div style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: black; letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"><font size="3"><br></font></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: black; letter-spacing: -0.35pt;"><font size="3">Editorial: A strong
argument for help fighting lanternfly</font></span></b></div>
<p class="ydp36f90e82MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: 24pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Monday January 15, 2018
12:01 AM Reading Eagle, Reading, Berks County, PA</span></p>
<p class="ydp36f90e82MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Berks County Commissioner Christian Y. Leinbach
must have taken a panel of U.S. and state lawmakers aback with his strongly
worded warning about the need for swift action to eradicate the spotted
lanternfly. The chairman of the commissioners delivered his plea for federal
funding in appropriately stark terms during an appearance before a legislative
forum at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.</span></p>
<p class="ydp36f90e82MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">"We need an immediate response. If we don't
get these resources to us before the spring hatch in two months, it may be too
late," Leinbach said. "The spotted lanternfly will wipe out the grape
industry, could wipe out hardwood, and is impacting orchards."</span></p>
<p class="ydp36f90e82MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">"This is apocalyptic from an economic and
environmental standpoint," he added. "We have heard from grape
growers and orchard owners: One more year of this, and they are out of
business."</span></p>
<p class="ydp36f90e82MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Those of us who have witnessed the rapid spread
of the pest over the past few years know that the commissioner is hardly
exaggerating. For a while it was largely limited to a relatively small, rural
section of eastern Berks County. But in 2017 the pest was spotted in large
numbers in much of the region.</span></p>
<p class="ydp36f90e82MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">The spotted lanternfly is native to Asia but
came to North America in a shipment to Berks County, where it was first spotted
in 2014. The pest, which destroys grape vineyards and hardwoods and has been
seen in apple orchards, has spread to 13 southeast Pennsylvania counties.</span></p>
<p class="ydp36f90e82MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Leinbach needed to make a strong case because of
the uphill climb he's facing. He is requesting $40 million in federal funding.
Getting any money from Washington or Harrisburg is difficult right now. Getting
it in a matter of weeks is even more challenging.</span></p>
<p class="ydp36f90e82MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">If he accomplished nothing more than putting
this issue on state and national lawmakers' radar, it will have been worth the
trip to Harrisburg, though we do urge officials to find funding right away to
combat the pest and research ways to eradicate it.</span></p>
<p class="ydp36f90e82MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Right now the problem is largely unknown outside
this region. Leinbach is making a persuasive argument that it won't be long
before it spreads to other states unless something is done swiftly. Each year
the number of lanternflies grows, more eggs are laid, and the numbers keep
multiplying. Leinbach said the number of lanternflies is approaching 1
trillion.</span></p>
<p class="ydp36f90e82MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">"If we are not successful," the
commissioner argued, "not only will Pennsylvania face quarantines, the
United States could face quarantines because Canada, South America, Mexico and
Europe are watching it."</span></p>
<p class="ydp36f90e82MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Leinbach told the panel the plan is to prepare
40,000 trap trees in the spring. A notch would be cut around certain trees to
seep sap and attract the insects. The trap trees would be treated with
pesticide. Money is needed to execute this plan.</span></p>
<p class="ydp36f90e82MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">But we should not be leaving the response to
this problem to government alone. Landowners need to destroy the ailanthus
tree, also known as the tree of heaven. The spotted lanternfly feeds on it
before reproducing. And people in areas that haven't seen the pest in the past
should report lanternfly sightings to state agriculture officials.</span></p>
<p class="ydp36f90e82MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">This is the year to get a handle on this program.
That means a strong effort by all levels of government in cooperation with
residents in affected areas. Leinbach's appearance in Harrisburg should push
things in that direction.</span></p><br></div></body></html>