Our local Grange, Eagle Grange No. 1 will host an important program at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at its Grange Hall at the intersection of Route 15 and East Blind Road.

The program will feature a biologist and entomologist, Anna Busch, speaking about the spotted lanternfly.

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive species that threatens the Pennsylvania economy’s agricultural sector. The Center for Rural Pennyslvania estimates the lanternfly caused $13.1 million in economic losses in 2019 alone, according to an article in the Sun-Gazette in late August.

The threat to crops is leading the state to assess how it can better combat the spread of the spotted lanternfly. But the state does not have to act alone.

Property owners in rural Pennsylvania can do their part by destroying the lanternflies’ egg masses. According to an article in a November 2020 edition of the Sun-Gazette, research indicated oil-based insecticides could help kill egg masses. Of course, scraping and smashing the masses when found also eradicated their threat. Property owners can scrape the masses off of leaves and brush, lawn furniture and other outdoor accessories, place them in a bag with hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol and then throw them away.

In general, egg masses are about an inch and a half long and brown or grey in color. They have rows of eggs roughly the size of a sharpened pencil point which are themselves yellow or brown in color.

So far, according to Penn State Extension, Lycoming County has not been added to the spotted lanternfly quarantine, under which timber and agricultural businesses should closely monitor moving high-risk materials like firewood and mulch to unquarantined areas. However, neighboring Columbia and Northumberland counties are under quarantine.

We can only hope the public will educate itself about how to prevent the spread of the spotted lanternfly as experts research the best methods for controlling its population. To that end, the Grange’s presentation is a valuable community resource.