Pennsylvania's senior United States senator is calling on Washington to help Berks County in its fight against an invasive species of insect.
Sen. Bob Casey sent a letter Tuesday to U.S. Department of AgricultureTom Vilsack, asking for emergency funding from the USDA to help combat the spotted lanternfly.
The troublesome bug from eastern Asia was recently spotted in Berks County. It poses a threat to more than 50 plant species, endangering the state's grape ($20.5 million), apple ($134 million), stone fruit ($24 million) and logging ($12 billion) industries, officials said.
"It's important that USDA move quickly to combat this invasive insect in Berks County and throughout the state," Casey said. "We've seen before the significant economic impact that invasive species can have. Taking action will protect two of the commonwealth's strongest industries -- fruit and forestry."
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has placed seven Berks municipalities -- District, Hereford, Pike, Rockland and Washington townships and Bally and Bechtelsville boroughs -- under quarantine in an effort to prevent the spotted lanternfly from spreading.
While the potential for the insect moving elsewhere is a big concern, Casey said attention must also be given to how the spotted lanternfly got into the country in the first place.
"The introduction of this invasive pest underscores the importance of full and proper screenings of imports and arriving passengers to safeguard our country and American agriculture from invasive pests and diseases," Casey wrote in his letter to Vilsack.
For more information about the spotted lanternfly, you can call your local Penn State Extension office or the state's invasive species hotline at 866-253-7189.
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