An Ohio Sea Grant internship recently took steps to control Ohio’s spotted lanternfly infestation with innovative solutions.
This summer, Ohio Sea Grant hosted a Community Engaged Internship, a Sea Grant-sponsored program for undergraduate students, to address spotted lanternfly infestation and resultant water quality concerns associated with chemical controls.
The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive pest native to Asia that was first reported in Ohio in 2021.
During the 3-month internship, Case Western Reserve University undergraduate student Samuel Cedeño Montalvo worked with Ohio Sea Grant to develop and implement an applied project to educate local communities about the invasive species.
“Spotted lanternfly are an invasive species that have been wreaking havoc on nurseries, vineyards and other crops in northeast Ohio,” said Dr. Scott Hardy, an Ohio Sea Grant extension educator who worked with Montalvo. “This project helped identify and educate the public about innovative solutions to combat them.”
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive pest native to Asia that arrived in the U.S. in 2014 and was first reported in Ohio in 2021. The insects feed on plants, excrete waste that hinders photosynthesis, and are especially attracted to grapevines, hardwoods, and ornamentals – presenting a serious problem for farmers and nursery owners, as well as a public nuisance for communities infested by it.
Through the internship, Montalvo, Hardy, farm owners and operators and wine producers in northeast Ohio produced a The Ohio State University branded fact sheet, a tri-fold handout for youth and an educational video. All three were produced in both English and Spanish.
“The internship provided a great opportunity for an undergraduate student to learn more about invasive species management in coastal Ohio and gain experience in public engagement and outreach,” Hardy said. “This is hopefully the start of a more robust internship program for Ohio Sea Grant.”
Residents can take action against the spotted lanternfly by removing Tree of Heaven — an ornamental plant that is one of the most frequently preferred hosts for the invasive insects. They can also kill lanternflies on sight at any life stage and spot and destroy their egg masses, laid until December. For landowners, several traps outlined in the fact sheet present promising alternatives to pesticide application that can harm beneficial, native insects.
For more information about the project and the spotted lanternfly, contact Hardy at hardy.116@osu.edu.
Ohio Sea Grant is supported by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University Extension, and NOAA Sea Grant, a network of 34 Sea Grant programs nation-wide dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of marine and Great Lakes resources. Stone Laboratory is Ohio State’s island campus on Lake Erie and is the research, education, and outreach facility of Ohio Sea Grant and part of CFAES School of Environment and Natural Resources.