The spread of the spotted lanternfly (SLF) in Ohio has prompted the state to issue quarantines in areas seeing infestations of the invasive bug.
The pest, originally from Asia, poses a significant threat to agriculture and forestry due to its destructive feeding habits.
Quarantines are in effect in 12 Ohio counties, 4 of them in Northeast Ohio: Cuyahoga, Lorain, Columbiana and Mahoning.
The insect is characterized by its distinctive black and yellow spotted wings, as well as its bright red underwings.
Here’s what the quarantine means for residents:
A quarantine of an area found to be infested with the spotted lanternfly means that any material that could harbor the bug cannot be moved without taking precautions to prevent its spread.