Fighting Our Insect Pests with The West Virginia Department of Agriculture

This week Dr. Berry Crutchfield will talk about a new pest that has been found in West Virginia, the spotted Lantern fly, which attacks several host plants such as grapes, hops, and various fruit and timber trees. Native to Asia, this pest was first detected in 2019 near the town of Bunker Hill, WV in Berkeley county. The Eastern Panhandle is home to a profitable orchard industry, which could be affected by an increased spotted lanternfly population. This invasive pest is spreading slowly across the Mountain State. with a healthy appetite. Berry will discuss how far the Lantern Fly has spread and what control measures are being taken. He will also talk about other insect issues happening around West Virginia.