The non-native insect had not been found alive in the state yet. The spotted lanternfly, an insect native to China, could one day pose a threat to agriculture in Missouri. Dead ones are showing up in cargo being shipped to the state.
Sarah Phipps, state survey coordinator for the Missouri Department of Agriculture said that the Spotted Lanternfly was originally discovered in 2014 in Pennsylvania and since then has migrated to 14 different states by hitching a ride on people’s belongings.
Source: ksmu.org
Photo Credit: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Categories: Missouri, Rural Lifestyle