Become Spotted Lanternfly Busters
Everyone has seen them — on their front steps, in their gardens, at the base of trees, in their pools, and even on beaches — and knows the threat they pose to the environment. The Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, earlier this year, acquired high-powered vacuums to help reduce the number of Spotted Lanternflies in County Parks and has since acquired ten more to loan to municipalities on a first-come basis.
County Executive George Latimer stated, “Westchester is taking proactive steps to combat the invasion, from equipping our parks to supporting our local communities in their efforts.”
The County is collecting data from municipal employees who use the vacuums to help track exact locations of the invasive insects. The County urges homeowners to kill Spotted Lanternflies and report them to iNaturalist.