NEW YORK (WENY) -- The New York Department of Agriculture put out a reminder to New Yorkers on Monday, Dec. 16th to destroy any Spotted Lanternfly eggs they find. With recent sightings in the New York Capitol region and Finger Lakes, concerns are on the high for New York's grape and wine industry, which could lose hundreds of millions of dollars in value if Lanternflies are allowed to spread unchecked. 

“We have been working with our partners for years to contain SLF and minimize the spread of this invasive species, which can cause extensive damage to plants and crops that are critical to New York’s agricultural economy. We are incredibly grateful for the help New Yorkers have provided in the last few years and urge residents to continue eliminating egg masses by scraping them off trees, structures and outdoor furnishings now that the cold weather is here," said New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball. 

Spotter Lanternflies are an invasive species first detected in Pennsylvania back in 2014. The bug was found in New York back in 2020, and it has spread since. 

“The rapid spread of Spotted Lanternfly has highlighted the many invasive species challenges now facing the state and the critical role New Yorkers can play in helping State agencies and our partners identify threats and take actions to protect our natural resources. To address the spread of this invasive species, I encourage all residents to follow these tips for identifying Spotted Lanternfly egg masses and scrapping them off to contain this species. By working together, we can all make a difference to manage this destructive invasive species on our natural and agricultural resources and the important economic benefits they provide," said Sean Mahar, interim commissioner of the New York DEC. 

If you find any egg masses, kill them by putting them into alcohol or hand sanitizer, and then take a picture and send it to the state. You can find more information, including how to send any photos of egg masses, here.