Leesburg Volunteers Scrape Away Growing Lanternfly Threat

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Leesburg volunteers have joined a countywide effort to scrape and destroy spotted lanternfly egg masses, aiming to protect local trees and nearby wineries. Over the next two Saturdays, teams will fan out to 20 Loudoun locations, tagging invasive Tree of Heaven and scraping millions of eggs, backed by a Board of Supervisors-funded invasive species grant program.

Why it matters

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive pest that poses a serious threat to trees, crops, and the local economy in Loudoun County. By mobilizing volunteers to remove egg masses, the county is taking proactive steps to curb the spread of this destructive insect and mitigate the potential damage it could cause to the region's agriculture and natural resources.

The details

The volunteer effort is part of a broader countywide push to address the growing spotted lanternfly problem. Teams will target 20 locations across Loudoun, focusing on tagging the invasive Tree of Heaven plant, which serves as a preferred host for the lanternfly, and scraping millions of the pest's egg masses. The initiative is backed by a Board of Supervisors-funded invasive species grant program.

• Over the next two Saturdays, volunteers will fan out across Loudoun County.