This pretty little bug could devastate the wine industry
and . . .
it could provide an ongoing source of revenue for our arborists
The Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive insect working its way across the country; it’s expected to arrive on the west coast within the next few years, if not sooner. The SLF has caused billions of dollars of damage to wine and stone fruit crops in the east, and it could do the same here.
There is a general consensus that the best way to stop the SLF is to eliminate its main host tree, the Ailanthus altissima/Tree of Heaven (TOH). In some Washington State communities the Conservation Districts are coordinating the eradication efforts; in others the Noxious Weed boards are taking the lead. These resources are outlined on the two internet pages listed below.
Other parts of the state are ahead of us in planning. We don’t yet know who will take the lead in Walla Walla; we don’t know if there will be a concerted effort.
Ideally, the city, the county, the Conservation District, the Noxious Weed Board, the College, the Wine Commission, and the Corps of Engineers would all be involved in a coordinated effort. It would be like herding rabbits, but it could happen. It’s up to the stakeholders to find resources.
The key to a successful effort is effective removal, a lengthy and multi-step process. As the video (below) shows, simply cutting the Ailanthus (TOH) down doesn’t work; neither does painting the stump with herbicide. Systemic killing followed by removal can be a year-long process. Return visits to each site and recordkeeping will be necessary. and in some cases mitigation, replacing the TOH with a suitable tree for homeowners who depended on the tree for shade.
Where will the money come from? We aren’t yet in a position to say, though other communities have found the necessary resources.
Please click on the excellent video below provided by Penn State Extension on how to effectively eradicate Tree of Heaven, the host tree for Spotted Lantern Fly.
Tree People of Walla Walla 