Friday, August 1 2025
Spotted Lanternfly
Spotted Lanternfly

In this episode, host Karina Sinclair discusses the Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive insect, with Jeanine West, PhD., a plant pathology and physiology expert from Landscape Ontario. Jeanine delves into the threat posed by the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) to the agricultural sector, particularly the grape and wine industries in Canada. She outlines the insect's life cycle, preferred hosts and potential damage it can cause. Jeanine emphasizes the importance of early detection and public vigilance to slow its spread. She also discusses the importance of cooperation among the public, industry and government agencies, and debunks common myths about the pest. Landscape Ontario encourages landscapers to "Adopt a Spot" to keep an eye out for this pest as it moves from the U.S. into Canada.

Resources
Episode Transcription
Spotted lanternfly facts and resources - Landscape Ontario
Spotted lanternfly observations in Canada
D-24-01: Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) – Domestic and import phytosanitary requirements - inspection.canada.ca
Spotted Lanternfly prevention practices for producers | ontario.ca
Video version of this episode