Ontario issues warning about invasive pest that threatens maples, other trees

Story by Postmedia News • Yesterday 

The Spotted Lanternfly© Provided by Toronto Sun

Ontario Parks is sounding the alarm on an invasive species that could be set to cause trouble in the province.

The Spotted Lanternfly “ threatens many of our native tree species, including maples, poplars, pines, and cherries. Grape vines are also susceptible to this pest,” warned Ontario Parks. While the insects haven’t yet been spotted in Canada, they are in many states in the U.S.

But that’s not all. Something called Tree of Heaven is also a potential threat.

Tree of Heaven is an invasive tree native to China. It was first introduced to North America in 1784 in the Philadelphia area, according to Ontario Parks, which added the species has since spread across Ontario.

It is the primary host species for the Spotted Lanternfly, which has been detected in nearby New York State.

Spotted Lanternfly species “threatens to severely impact Ontario’s viticulture (wine), fruit-tree, and maple industries, which have a combined estimated worth of over $530 billion/year in Canada,” they said.

Ontario Parks asks those who have spotted Tree of LIfe to upload a picture which will be added to the provincial database.


Tree of Life. Barb Alber/Ontario Parks

“ Tree of Heaven grows rapidly. It can become very large, and can reach heights of over 21 metres tall. It is able to produce suckers from its base, so it often appears to be the size of a small to medium-sized shrub.”