What Virginians Need to Know About the 2022 Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Expansion

Introduction

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine will be expanded in July 2022 to include the following cities and counties: Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Manassas, Staunton, Waynesboro, Albemarle, Augusta, Carroll, Page, Prince William, Rockingham, Rockbridge, Shenandoah, and Wythe. This is in addition to the quarantine already in place for Frederick, Warren, and Clarke Counties and the City of Winchester. This document summarizes how the updated quarantine impacts the citizens of Virginia.

For residents in Virginia outside of the quarantine area

There are no restrictions on the movement of materials originating outside the quarantine area, but you should be aware of SLF and report insects you suspect are SLF. To learn how to identify SLF, visit Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Spotted Lanternfly In Virginia website.

If you think that you have found a SLF, you can take a specimen to your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office for confirmation. Your reports help Cooperative Extension track the spread of SLF in Virginia.

For residents of the following cities and counties; Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Manassas, Staunton, Waynesboro, Albemarle, Augusta, Carroll, Frederick, Page, Prince William, Rockingham, Rockbridge, Shenandoah, Winchester, Warren and Wythe and Clarke Counties with SLF on their property

If needed, SLF on plants can be controlled with labeled insecticides. Confirm that you have SLF before applying insecticides. See Identification and Life Cycle of Spotted Lanternfly in Virginia. Treat when the immature stages of SLF are active during the months of May-July. Carbaryl, bifenthrin, and pyrethrins are effective contact pesticides for controlling SLF. Destroy any egg masses you find.

For residents in the quarantine area moving outdoor household items to a location outside of the quarantine area

The SLF quarantine regulates the movement of all the following items: recreational vehicles; lawn tractors or mowers; grills; grill or furniture covers; tarps; mobile homes; tile; stone; deck boards; outdoor furniture; children’s playhouses and playground equipment; and any vehicles, trailers, or other equipment stored outside. This list can include anything else not otherwise specified that could move any life stages of SLF, including eggs. If you plan to move outdoor items out of the quarantine area, please inspect those items for SLF. Kill any SLF found. You can document your inspection using the Homeowner Checklist from VDACS.

For Christmas tree growers

Inside the quarantine area, there are no restrictions on the movement of plants, plant materials, and other regulated items. An inspection is required if the customer lives outside the quarantine area. The inspection responsibility is on the business selling the commodity. Destroy any egg masses that are found. For more information, see the Best Management Practices for Spotted Lanternfly on Christmas Tree Farms.

Growers inside the quarantine area who are shipping Christmas trees out of the quarantine area must have a Spotted Lanternfly Permit. The items must be inspected and verified that they are free of all stages of SLF. Also, a copy of the Spotted Lanternfly Permit and a completed inspection statement must be sent with the regulated items. To obtain a Spotted Lanternfly Permit, take the online course for the Training Credential and apply to VDACS for a Spotted Lanternfly Permit. To start this process, visit Spotted Lanternfly In Virginia and click on the maroon “Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Training” box.

For farmer markets, produce stands, U-pick farms, agrotourism sites, and similar businesses

All plants and plant parts are considered regulated materials. This includes nursery plants, produce, and decorations made from plant materials. In addition, any items that have been stored outside since last fall (e.g., crates, furniture, crafts, decorative objects, etc.) are also regulated.

Inside the current quarantine area, there are no restrictions on the movement of plants, plant materials, and other regulated items. It’s still a good business practice to check for SLF on the materials to limit the spread of SLF. An inspection is required if the customer lives outside the quarantine area. The inspection responsibility is on the business selling the commodity.

For lawn, landscaping, and tree care businesses

All plants and plant parts are considered regulated materials. This includes nursery plants; live or dead trees; green lumber; firewood; logs, stumps, or branches; mulch; composted or fresh chips; and bark. Any equipment stored outside (e.g., lawn mowers, chippers, tools, etc.) is regulated along with trucks and trailers.

Inside the current quarantine area, there are no restrictions on the movement of plants, plant materials, and other regulated items within the quarantine area. It’s still a good business practice to check for SLF on the materials to limit the spread of SLF.

Businesses moving any plants, plant materials, and other regulated items from the quarantine area to a location outside the quarantine area must have a Spotted Lanternfly Permit. The items must be inspected and verified that they are free of all stages of SLF. Also, a copy of the Spotted Lanternfly Permit and a completed inspection statement must be sent with the regulated the items. To obtain a Spotted Lanternfly Permit, take the online course for the Training Credential and apply to VDACS for a Spotted Lanternfly Permit. To start this process, visit Spotted Lanternfly In Virginia and click on the maroon “Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Training” box.

For loggers and foresters

All plants and plant parts are considered regulated materials. This includes nursery plants; live or dead trees; green lumber; firewood; logs, stumps, or branches; mulch; composted or fresh chips; and bark. Any equipment stored outside (e.g., lawn mowers, chippers, tools, etc.) is regulated along with trucks and trailers.

Inside the current quarantine area, there are no restrictions on the movement of plants, plant materials, and other regulated items. It’s still a good business practice to check for SLF on the materials to limit the spread of this pest.

Moving plants, plant materials, and any regulated items from the quarantine area to locations outside the quarantine area requires a Spotted Lanternfly Permit. The items must be inspected and verified that they are free of all stages of SLF. Also, a copy of the Spotted Lanternfly Permit and a completed inspection statement must be sent with the regulated items. To obtain a Spotted Lanternfly Permit, take the online course for the Training Credential Training and apply to VDACS for a Spotted Lanternfly Permit. To start this process, visit Spotted Lanternfly In Virginia and click on the maroon “Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Training” box.

For growers of commodities that could be damaged by SLF or could spread SLF

This includes fruit and grape growers; plant nurseries; and hops growers.

There are no restrictions on the movement of commodities grown inside the current quarantine area if the commodities are only sold inside the quarantine area. It’s still a good business practice to check for SLF to limit the spread of SLF.

Growers shipping commodities from the quarantine area to locations outside the quarantine area must have a Spotted Lanternfly Permit. The items must be inspected and verified that they are free of all stages of SLF. Also, a copy of the Spotted Lanternfly Permit and a completed inspection statement must be sent with the regulated items. To obtain a Spotted Lanternfly Permit, take the online course for the Training Credential and apply to VDACS for a Spotted Lanternfly Permit. To start this process, visit Spotted Lanternfly In Virginia and click on the maroon “Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Training” box.

For carriers of commodities that could be damage by SLF or could spread SLF

This includes shipping, trucking, and moving firms.

Shipping regulated materials from the quarantine area to locations outside the quarantine area requires a Spotted Lanternfly Permit. The items must be inspected and verified that they are free of all stages of SLF. Also, a copy of the Spotted Lanternfly Permit and a completed inspection statement must be sent with the regulated items. To obtain a Spotted Lanternfly Permit, take the online course for the Training Credential and apply to VDACS for a Spotted Lanternfly Permit. To start this process, visit Spotted Lanternfly In Virginia and click on the maroon “Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Training” box.

For intrastate movement of regulated materials originating outside of the quarantine area

This includes shipping, trucking, and moving firms.

From January 1 through March 31: a business may move any regulated materials that originate outside the quarantine area through the quarantine area without any restrictions. A Spotted Lanternfly Permit is not required.

From April 1 through December 31: a business may move any regulated materials that originate outside the quarantine area and through the quarantine area without a Spotted Lanternfly Permit if the following criteria are met:

• The regulated materials are accompanied with a waybill indicating the point of origin for the items.

• The shipment moves directly through the quarantine area without stopping, except for refueling or due to traffic conditions, OR if the regulated materials have been stored, packed, or handled in a manner not posing a risk of infestation.

• The regulated materials have not been combined or commingled with other articles so they lose their individual identity.

Shipments stopping for any reason other than refueling or for traffic conditions (e.g., unloading, overnight parking, etc.) are considered to originate within the quarantine area even if the truck and the contents originated from outside the quarantine area. Under these circumstances, the business must have a Spotted Lanternfly Permit. The items must be inspected and verified that they are free of all stages of SLF. Also, a copy of the Spotted Lanternfly Permit and a completed inspection statement must be sent with the regulated items, which includes empty vehicles or trailers. To obtain a Spotted Lanternfly Permit, take the online course for the Training Credential Training and apply to VDACS for a Spotted Lanternfly Permit. To start this process, visit Spotted Lanternfly In Virginia and click on the maroon “Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Training” box.

Note

The Virginia Spotted Lanternfly Permit will be honored by other states and VDACS will honor Virginia Cooperative Extension permits from other states. However, the requirements for inspection statements as set by Virginia must still accompany Spotted Lanternfly Permits from other states. In addition, other states may have different requirements for when a permit is required and what paperwork should accompany the permit. Shippers and carriers are strongly encouraged to be aware of what other states require before moving regulated materials into those states.

Revised

Eric Day and Theresa A. Dellinger, June 30, 2022.