Homeowners can help scientists study spotted lanterflies

There’s some important research being done locally at St. Vincent College and Chatham Univeristy regarding the invasive spotted lanterfly.

If you’re interested in helping by getting a kit to catch an preserve some spotted lanterflies, here’s the link to find out how to help.

From the website-

What is the Spotted Lanternfly Invasion Archive?

The SLFIA is a new project headed by Dr. Michelle Duennes at Saint Vincent College and Dr. Al McDonnell at Chatham University. With support from student courses and community members in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, we aim to build a sample collection of this invasive species serving as an “historical record” of their movement. While their recent invasion into Western Pennsylvania is far from welcomed, it offers a rare opportunity to study and record the spread of an invasive species from the very beginning.

To launch this study, participants will be asked to collect samples of Spotted Lanternfly every year in the same location. Dr. McDonnell’s and Dr. Duennes’ students will collect samples on and near the campuses of Saint Vincent College and Chatham University. Community partners will collect samples at their homes, properties, or schools. We hope to have participants collect behavioral and life history data and potentially test out trapping methods in the future, but for this first year we will be focusing on collecting male and female adult samples to build a base record of their distribution.