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Agriculture official asks visitors to inspect vehicles to avoid spreading spotted lanternfly, spongy moth
Summary
Assistant Agricultural Commissioner Richard Ordness warned that spotted lanternfly and spongy moth egg masses can hitchhike on vehicles and outdoor gear. He urged visitors to inspect and clean trailers, avoid bringing firewood or plants, and report sightings to the county at (831) 759-7325.
Richard Ordness, assistant agricultural commissioner for Monterey County, told the briefing the county is focusing on two high-priority invasive pests for Car Week: the spotted lanternfly and the spongy moth. Both pests can "hitchhike" on vehicles, trailers and outdoor gear and threaten agriculture, forests and landscapes if introduced.
Ordness described egg masses for both pests and practical steps visitors can take: inspect and clean vehicles, trailers and outdoor equipment before travel; avoid bringing firewood or plants from outside the area; and, if an egg mass is found, scrape it into a sealed bag with alcohol or soapy water. He also urged prompt reporting of detections: "If you do find a spotted lanternfly or spongy moth on your belongings, they should report it to our office, immediately. Our telephone number is area code (831) 759-7325." The agricultural office said a single adult spongy moth was trapped in 2023 near Carmel Valley, which triggered a two-year delimitation project; no additional spongy moths were found in that investigation.
The office said a few minutes of inspection and cleaning before travel can make a significant difference in preventing pest introductions to Monterey County.
