State Targets Five Communities In Lanternfly Outbreak

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management will be spraying insecticide to kill the invasive, spotted lanternfly in several locations.

Starting Wednesday, RIDEM will be targeting Lincoln, Smithfield, North Providence, Providence and Pawtucket. Officials say the spotted lanternfly is appearing in more places, posing a threat to agricultural crops and trees.

The targeted treatments are not large-scale operations, and the project crew typically consists of one-to-two contracted pesticide applicators targeting the most infested areas.

(Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)