The official start of spring this week comes with warming to residents of several municipalities: be on lookout for the spotted lanternfly, an invasive pest which has been responsible for damaging trees and other wooden structures in the affected areas.

                Lanternfly eggs have now been located in Hereford Township, officials said. 

                Hereford supervisors cautioned residents, during Tuesday's board meeting, to be vigilant when performing spring cleaning and other outside activities. They reminded to those in attendance to look for egg masses that are usually found on flat, shiny surfaces and along tree lines.

                The insect, native to southeast Asia, was first spotted locally in late September 2014 and promptly caused the quarantine of District, Hereford, Pike, Rockland and Washington townships, including parts of Bally and Bechtelsville boroughs. Residents living in quarantine areas are prohibited by the order of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) from removing materials that could potentially harbor egg masses and its eventual spread to surround communities. A maximum penalty of more than $20,000 could be imposed on those who are caught deliberately violating the rule.

                Asked if anyone in the Hereford Township has seen the actual pest, board chairman John Membrino said he only the insect's eggs after his neighbor discovered them while raking leaves. No other sightings have been reported since and PDA is still investigating how the bug arrived in the area. 

                According to state officials, this is the first known case of the Spotted Lanterfly (Lycorma delicatula) in the United States.

                In effort to recruit volunteers and discuss strategies in defeating the pest, the PDA will hold a public meeting this Saturday, March 21, starting 10 a.m. at District Township's municipal office, near Berks County Park on Weill Rd.

                "[PDA] fear that larva is going to leave the quarantined area on something other than vegetation by attaching to someone's boat or trailer. They're trying to alert people what they're looking for," said Norann Warmkessel, township secretary.

                Warmkessel said PDA is now searching for volunteers to go around and hang sticky bands on trees and shrubs to attract the pesky insect. This long-term project will require these traps to be changed every two weeks and the department needs people to train for it.

                In other news, Hereford Parks and Recreation chairperson Pam Dwyer, accompanied by committee member Pam Haire, asked the supervisors to approve the purchase and installation of a bench with a plaque at Tollgate Park, honoring the memory of Ralph Shaner, 32, who died November 29, 2014 while performing his duties as member of the township maintenance crew.

                When Membrino asked for more information on cost of the bench, Dwyer declined to provide the estimate but reported that the committee has enough funding from its own fiscal year budget.

                "It would be a nice seating area for the fishermen and kids. It would be inviting and people will like it," Haire said. "We want our parks to be inviting," she added.