Efforts to quarantine spotted lanternflies in Virginia have been deemed ineffective.
The state’s Department of Agriculture repealed the quarantine last month after efforts to slow the pest failed. The quarantine was established back in 2019 when the pest was first detected in Frederick County.
Sixty-seven Virginia localities now face the pest which feeds on grapes, hops, stone fruits, and hardwood trees.
Spotted lanternflies have also been found in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, and Connecticut.
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Here are the top agriculture news headlines from RFD-TV News today (Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025) and the top trending stories on RFD-TV News.
“It’s a growing problem... Beekeepers are already under pressure so hard to keep their hives alive, and this is just another stressor that beekeepers don’t need.”
“I will work tirelessly to further support and protect our rural communities.” — Tom Schultz