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Health Department to coordinate with state, residents on lanternfly concerns

A spotted lanternfly rests on a tree at Carrigan Park. PHOTO/SHAUN McAULIFFE

Acting on a tip from residents, the Hopkinton Health Department has identified the presence of spotted lanternflies at Carrigan Park.

Last week, residents whose property abuts the park, located behind 85 Main Street, noted the presence of the invasive insects on trees there. That information was reported to the state and passed along to the Health Department. Health Director Shaun McAuliffe went out to survey the park on Wednesday.

“I can confirm there are … about 100 lanternflies we identified without any effort,” McAuliffe told the Independent. He said that after documenting the situation, he plans to notify the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.

Spotted lanternflies are invasive, sap-feeding insects native to Asia. According to the Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project, the flies attack “a wide variety off trees, shrubs and vines” and could impact agricultural activities.

“An infestation at an orchard or a vineyard or a hop-growing facility could devastate the industry,” McAuliffe explained.

The insects primarily are attracted to tree of heaven, an invasive plant species also from Asia. McAuliffe and abutters around Carrigan Park confirmed the flies were found near trees of heaven on the property.

The Health Department’s role now is to monitor the situation for state agencies such as MDAR and cooperate with eradicating the flies. McAuliffe said his department is working to recruit residents to kill the bugs with a spray solution of dish soap and water. He added that power washers might be used when possible.

In the meantime, residents are taking matters into their own hands. Lucia Lopez, an abutter of Carrigan Park, told the Independent in an email that one of her neighbors had deputized her two children to hunt the bugs, complete with a 10-cent bounty per fly. Lopez noted her children racked up over $8 last weekend and are eager to spread awareness.

“They’re excited to share their experience at school so more people know about these pests, since lots of their friends spend time at Carrigan Park during baseball season,” said Lopez.

— NICK SCHOFIELD

Latest News

At its meeting on Wednesday, the Water & Sewer Advisory Board heard a proposal from a resident water expert for increasing the town’s in-basin water supply.

The Parks & Recreation Commission on Tuesday discussed revenues for the Fruit Street athletic complex and solutions for funding this year’s holiday lights.

A tractor fire on Wood Street and an accident on Hayden Rowe Street caused traffic issues during commuting times Thursday.

In the latest Tales from a Townie, Bill Hamilton recalls memories of his first aid merit badge counselor, Steve Fleming.

Our latest Sports Roundup previews some of the postseason matchups coming up for Hopkinton High School’s fall sports teams.

The Hopkinton High School boys soccer team is looking to improve its goal scoring and finishing as it eyes a spot in the upcoming state tournament, according to coach Garrett Sawyer.

This week’s Baypath Adoptable Animal is Moose, a 1-year-old Belgian Malinois described as social and “a true smarty-paws.”

The latest Senior Snippets column highlights November’s book club, a listening session with Hopkinton Public Schools Superintendent Evan Bishop and a program about Bonnie and Clyde.

Photo of the Day

Children take part in the RE/MAX Executive Realty Charitable Foundation Trunk-or-Treat event Wednesday night at Resilience Fitness on South Street.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO