Spotted lanternflies have arrived in Rockville Centre

By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com

The spotted lanternfly, an invasive species that feeds on plants and trees, has made its way to Rockville Centre.

“Several residents have reported seeing spotted lanternflies,” Village Trustee Katie Conlon said at the board meeting on Aug. 7. “The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect from Asia that feeds on a wide variety of plants and trees.”

The species was discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014, and it quickly spread across the region, establishing populations in nearby states including Dela- ware, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia.

To try to slow the spread to New York, the state issued an external quarantine in October 2018, restricting the movement of goods and vehicles from states where the flies are known to have populations.

“The goal of the quarantine we have implemented is to help reduce the opportunities these pests may have in hitching a ride on firewood, plants and other common outdoor items and entering our state in the first place,” Richard Ball, the state’s commissioner of agriculture, said in 2018.

While the quarantine has helped slow their spread, by 2020 the lanternfly had made its way to Staten Island — the first center of infestation in the state — and it has since shown up on Long Island and parts of upstate New York.

Nymphs, or newly hatched lanternflies, have an almost ladybug-like appearance. They are red with black and white spots, and can typically be seen from April through July.

They begin to transition from July through September, and grow to roughly an inch long and a half-inch wide. They can be identified by their distinctive wings, which are covered in black spots.

In the fall, the adults lay inch-long egg masses on anything from tree trunks, rocks and vehicles to outdoor furniture and firewood.

“The spotted lanternfly poses a risk to many of our trees and plants,” Conlon said. “The adults and nymphs … feed on the sap, which causes distress to the trees, making them vulnera-

Resident disposes harmful pollutants

Kevin Bozek of Rockville Centre participated in the Stop Throwing Out Pollutants program in Levittown on July 11, 2023, organized by the Town of Hempstead.

The program allows residents to dispose of harmful pollutants — such as antifreeze, drain cleaners, and pesticides — in a safe environmental friendly manner.

Team recognized for milestone season

The Rockville Centre Little League Juniors Softball team was recognized on Aug. 7, for their many incredible accomplishments this year.

The team went undefeated to close out the regular season — but it didn’t just stop there. The RVC juniors continued to be a dominant force in the post-season.

The team went on to claim the title of District 30 champions, Section 4 champions, and — for the first time in village history — secured the coveted title as the New York state champions, earning themselves a spot in the Little League Softball World Series Eastern Regional Tournament.

Although the team ultimately lost in the elimination round, they went headto-head with some of the best teams on the east coast and showed them the best that RVC Little League has to offer. It was an impressive feat, and will certainly be one that the team and organization will remember for years to come.