A solution to the spotted lanternfly infestation that has swept the Mid-Atlantic could come from researchers working out of the University of Delaware.
One of the major problems in controlling the spotted lanternfly’s population is that the insect has no natural predators in America. Researchers at the UD lab have identified two wasps from Asia that could help with population control if safely introduced to the East Coast region.
The spotted lanternfly was first spotted in Berks County, Pennsylvania, almost 10 years ago. The invasive pest poses a serious risk to agriculture, potentially causing over $500 million in damage to grape and fruit tree crops.
Although the experiment has shown promise, there are still many unknowns and risks to study before anything is officially implemented.
The potential solution: Parasitic wasps
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit, located on the University of Delaware’s campus, works with invasive species and attempts to find natural methods of population control. The crew often collaborates with researchers from China or Asia to gauge a better understanding of invasive pests.
