State Agricultural Officials Provide Update About Spotted Lanternfly

10:27AM / Thursday, August 28, 2025Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is informing the public that the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), an invasive insect, has now been confirmed in more than 50 cities and towns across nine different counties in the state.

MDAR is advising businesses and residents in affected areas to review SLF guidance strategies to manage this pest and prevent its further spread.

Spotted Lanternflies are not a threat to people or pets, as they do not sting or bite. They primarily feed on the sap of over 100 different types of plants. This time of year, spotted lanternflies are entering their adult stage, characterized by their gray wings with black spots and a set of red hindwings underneath. Residents are encouraged to watch for these insects, especially in areas with grapevines, tree-of-heaven, bittersweet, maple, or black walnut.

While spotted lanternflies can kill grapevines and small tree saplings, they generally pose minor risks to mature trees. The most noticeable impact is the sticky residue known as honeydew that they produce while feeding, which can be an inconvenience for outdoor activities including agritourism.

For those facing lanternfly issues at their residence or business, MDAR's SLF Management Guide offers practical solutions for dealing with this pest, containing advice about setting up traps, removing tree-of-heaven or other host plants, and details about state activities to slow the spread of SLF.

"With populations of spotted lanternfly expanding, we expect that more residents will start to see SLF activity at home or where they work," said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. "Because MDAR has limited resources for management, the agency is focusing on slowing the spread of this pest in areas where agriculture is most at risk, as well as locations where there are businesses at risk of accidentally spreading SLF to new areas."

Due to the volume of calls MDAR has been receiving this summer, if spotted lanternfly is found, MDAR is asking the public to first check this map to see if SLF has already been reported in the city or town. If SLF appears in a new location, please take a photo of the insect and visit mass.gov/slf to access the reporting form.

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Advocates Request Pittsfield Office of Neighborhood Safety

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:23AM / Monday, August 31, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Advocates want an office of neighborhood safety within the City of Pittsfield following a string of gun violence incidents this summer.

Last week, during a virtual meeting, the Pittsfield Freedom Project called for public health interventions, such as violence interrupters, hospital violence intervention, and a neighborhood trauma response team.

"I'm sure everyone is aware; there have been at least four shootings. I've heard from people in the community that there have been more than that, but these are the ones that have resulted in injuries," said filmmaker Jenny Herzog.

"Resulting in one homicide and at least seven injured over the last couple of months."

Recent shooting incidents in Pittsfield ranged from June 18, when a person died after being shot in the area of Tyler Street and Pleasure Avenue, and another person was injured, to August 18, when one person was injured after shots were fired on Circular Avenue.

Herzog produced the documentary "Hear Me," which explores the impact of poverty and gun violence on young people in Berkshire County. Attendees also heard from local advocate and fourth-generation Pittsfield resident Kamaar Taliaferro, CEO of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence Ruth Zakarin, and Ben Snyder, a sociology professor at Williams College.

"Here we are again in another cycle of gun violence, without the tools we need, seemingly without the will to demand the tools, and even if we did, without leadership that would even understand what we're asking for," Taliaferro said.

"And it's not like we don't have the resources to build what we need. At least $1.3 million has come into Pittsfield every year for the past six years, targeted to interrupt the cycle of gun and gang violence that we are in this moment. And dating back even further, Pittsfield has received gun violence prevention money and has received gang violence intervention money since like 2014. Since the last time there was this like emergent cycle of gun violence in our community."