Winemakers group pushes spotted lanternfly public awareness after 1st Canadian detection

CFIA's 1st official detection of invasive planthopper was in Windsor, Ont., last week

It was simply a matter of time for Canada’s first official detection of an invasive planthopper, according to the vice-chair of the Ontario Craft Wineries.

Last week, the Canadian Inspection Food Agency (CFIA) announced a spotted lanternfly was confirmed in Windsor, Ont.

"There's always been a sense of the inevitability and now it's here," said Steve Mitchell with the association which represents roughly 115 wineries in the province.

The invasive spotted lanternfly has been detected in Canada for the first time – in Windsor

"It's only a question of how long is it before it arrives to us — and to what level. We don't know yet exactly how this will [manifest] itself in terms of the final results to each of us as growers and wineries," said Mitchell, who’s also the president of Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery in Essex County.

It can feed on the sap of over 100 different plant species and is native to southeast Asia — while first detected in North America in Pennsylvania in 2014, according to the Invasive Species Centre.

"It's our hope that we can arrest it as much as possible and slow that growth. That is what it's all about."

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Mitchell says public awareness is key — and aligns with an approximate three-year build up for his industry anticipating the insect making its way into Canada.

"When people find it and we can eradicate it at that source, then the chance for it to spread has decreased so much. This is an exponential thing."

The insect can be catastrophic for the vine, he says.

"It's great that all that pre-information was put out there because now everyone's on high alert and ready for this thing to come."

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According to Mitchell, the necessary tools to try and thwart the lanternfly include proper sprays — and knowing when you can and cannot use them.

"I know that Pennsylvania, which was the ground zero for this insect coming into North America, has been dealing with this for quite some time. And the methods of control are known. Things can spiral out of control real fast, especially if a vineyard owner isn't aware or is distracted in some way."

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The CFIA says spotted lanternfly has been regulated in Canada since 2018. It can feed on more than 100 species of trees and plants, however, significant impacts from this feeding have only been observed on grapes.

The agency says if you think you’ve spotted a lanternfly or its egg masses to take a photo or video, catch the insect or scrape the egg masses and put it into sealable container, and to report it to the CFIA immediately.

Invasive spotted lanternfly found in Ontario. U.S. officials say stomp it

Mitchell offered his own take on what he’d do if he saw one.

"I'm literally saying stomp on it and then take a picture and send a picture to the CFIA to notify them."

The bug has multiple life-cycle stages from egg laying until adult, as seen below.

Bob Becken is with CBC's digital team. Previously, he was an executive producer with CBC Windsor, and held broadcast and digital news director duties with Bell Media and Blackburn Media. You can reach him at bob.becken@cbc.ca.

With files from Heather Kitching