The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is asking Canadians to keep an eye out for the spotted lanternfly, a pest originally native to China, that has been making inroads in the United States since 2014. Should the pest cross the border, that could spell disaster for Canada’s wineries and fruit growers.
The small grey-and-red insect has not been found alive in Canada, but in early September, hundreds of adults were found in a residential area in Buffalo, New York, which means it is just 45 km from the Canadian border.
That is why last week, the CFIA released a tweet asking Canadians to report any sightings of the pest on this side of the border “immediately.”
“We’re becoming more and more concerned about the proximity to Canada, and particularly our grape-growing industries, because this is a pest that has had significant impacts on the grape and fruit industry in the United States,” said Diana Mooij, a specialist in the invasive alien species program within the CFIA.
Source: globalnews.ca