CAPE MAY – The spotted lanternfly, a destructive pest native to Asia first seen in the United States in 2014, is now making its unwanted presence felt in historic Cape May, and the city is looking for ways to fight back.
The City Council, at its Tuesday, July 16, meeting, decided to seek a grant from the state Department of Agriculture’s program that battles the lanternfly. The program provides up to $20,000 to a municipality dealing with the pest; the funds can be used for chemical treatments on public and private lands during the 2024–2026 treatment seasons.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 17 states now have some level of infestation, including New Jersey. The pest can damage plants and trees while having a negative impact on the quality of life in areas that become heavily infested.
One of the lanternfly’s favorite habitats is what is known as the tree of heaven, a rapidly growing deciduous tree native to China that has become a widespread invasive species across North America. The plant is on the Cape May City list of invasive species.
City Manager Paul Dietrich explained at the council meeting that the tree of heaven is not easy to kill without eradicating all of its underground root structure. He advised property owners who seek to rid their property of this plant to work with a tree expert or someone familiar with the various ways of removing the tree.
Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
