Moving logs, firewood and brush under Pennsylvania's spotted lanternfly quarantine
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
Does the lanternfly quarantine affect tree work?
Directly. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's quarantine order regulates the movement of things that may carry the spotted lanternfly, and its list of examples starts with the material tree work produces: "Landscaping, remodeling or construction waste", "Logs, stumps, or any tree parts" and "Firewood of any species". The department says all residents and businesses must comply. So when a tree comes down, the question of what happens to the wood is partly a legal one.
What does the quarantine prohibit?
Moving the insect, and moving regulated items carelessly. The department says the quarantine strictly prohibits moving any living stage of the lanternfly, including egg masses, nymphs and adults, and regulates the movement of articles that may harbor it. Besides wood and yard waste, its examples of regulated articles include nursery stock, pots, crates and pallets, outdoor furniture, grills, tarps, stone and deck boards, and equipment and vehicles that are not stored indoors. It says intentional movement of the insect is a serious offense, and that violations could lead to criminal or civil penalties or fines. Penn State Extension adds that the department has the authority to fine anyone who willfully violates the order.
Where does the quarantine apply?
In most of the state, and the area changes. The department says it expanded the quarantine to 52 counties in 2024 and added four more in 2025, and that zones may be expanded when new populations are confirmed. It publishes an interactive map that shows whether a given location is quarantined. Check your own address there rather than relying on a list. Penn State says inspections are needed even when moving things within a single quarantined county, because populations are not spread evenly.
What do you need to do as a resident?
Inspect before you move anything. Penn State Extension says any items to be moved, inside or outside the quarantine, should be checked, and its list includes woody debris, firewood, plant material, tools and equipment. The insects hitchhike: Penn State says egg masses can look like a splash of mud and can be laid on trees, rocks or any other solid surface, and are present from September through June, while adults are around from July until late December. It recommends a resident compliance checklist, which it describes as a legal document showing that you inspected the items and destroyed any lanternflies you found. You can print it, fill it in, sign it and carry it with the load.
Penn State also suggests not parking vehicles or storing things under trees or along tree lines, because lanternflies often lay eggs on objects near the trees they feed on.
What about leaves and grass?
Those are treated differently. Penn State says the regulations do not apply to grass clippings or autumn leaf collection, because lanternflies have not been seen laying eggs on such lightweight material. Clippings and leaves may be moved out of the quarantine area if the truck and trailer hauling them have been inspected.
What does a tree company need?
A permit, and a habit of inspecting. Penn State says an SLF permit is required for all businesses, agricultural or not, working in the quarantine that move regulated articles, vehicles or other conveyances within or out of it. It says there is no fee for the permit. Managers or supervisors must complete a permit course, after which they are responsible for training employees on what to look for. Businesses must keep records of training, vehicle inspections and any control measures for at least two years, and a business that produces mulch or firewood must also have a compliance agreement with the department.
A crew that chips your brush and takes it away, or sells the logs as firewood, is doing exactly the kind of moving the order regulates. Ask whether it holds the permit, and where the material goes. The other permits a tree company may need are in what Pennsylvania and its towns require.
What if the wood is left with you?
Then the decisions are yours. Utilities may leave wood behind. PPL says that during routine maintenance it cuts larger wood into handling lengths and leaves it at the base of the tree, and that after storms all wood and debris is left on site. PECO says disposing of storm debris is the customer's responsibility. If the wood stays on your property, whether left in rounds or chipped where it lies, nothing needs to move. If you plan to take logs to a relative or a cabin, inspect them first and take the checklist.
Stumps are on the list too, so a stump that is dug out and hauled away is covered. The options for dealing with one on site are in stump grinding or stump removal.
Should you remove trees that attract lanternflies?
One kind, perhaps. Penn State Extension recommends removing tree-of-heaven where possible and practical, because it is invasive in the U.S. and the insect thrives on it. It says the best results come when an herbicide is used to kill the root system. It also says removing preferred host trees has not been specifically shown to manage lanternfly populations, and that more research is needed. For other trees, Penn State's view is that lanternfly feeding is a stressor rather than a killer, and that not every tree in an infested area needs to be treated.
How do you report a sighting?
The department and Penn State ask everyone, inside or outside the quarantine, to report lanternflies, online or by calling 1-888-4BAD-FLY (1-888-422-3359). Each egg mass holds 30 to 50 eggs, the department says, and scraping and smashing them needs no special tools. Businesses that serve your area are on the tree services directory page.
Sources
- Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine and Permitting, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
- Pennsylvania Expands Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine to Four Northeast and Northwest Counties, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
- How You Can Comply with the Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Regulations, Penn State Extension
- Spotted Lanternfly Management Guide, Penn State Extension
- Our Crews Respond Quickly to Storm Damage, PECO
- Line Clearing, PPL Electric Utilities