HAMDEN, Conn. — The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station is announcing a public hearing notice for a proposed quarantine order with defined restricted areas for the exotic pest spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (SLF for short). This insect has been detected in Connecticut with established populations detected in Fairfield County and single individuals intercepted in numerous towns. The spotted lanternfly is a new plant pest to the United States and represents a threat to Connecticut’s environment, residential areas, and agricultural interests, particularly forests, orchards, vineyards, and nurseries.
The purpose of the proposed quarantine order is to slow the spread of SLF within the state and provide for certification of Connecticut businesses for movement of regulated articles out of state and help protect the economic interests of the state’s agricultural industries by suppressing, controlling, or eradicating infestations of Spotted Lanternfly in regulated areas, and provide by inspection or compliance agreement methods to permit the movement of regulated articles not infested with spotted lanternfly.
Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held on May 18, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. via Webex concerning a quarantine order under CT General Statute Section 22-84 and current status of the spotted lanternfly in CT.
Information and the Webex link for the hearing will be posted on the CAES’ Spottled Lanternfly webpage. Written and oral comments will be accepted. Written comments should be submitted to Kirby.Stafford@ct.gov.
–Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station