New Jersey officials are rallying residents to pick up where they left off last fall after the accelerated spread of invasive spotted lanternflies in 2021 resulted in 13 counties being placed on a quarantine list.

The clarion call sounded by the Department of Agriculture is printed on plastic scraper cards being distributed through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension: "Scrape these pests away" and "If you see it, squash it!"

The scraper cards, or any similar card such as a credit card, can be used to scrape off lanternfly egg masses from trees before they hatch in May.

Native to Southeast Asia, the invasive pest is believed to have hitchhiked to Pennsylvania attached to wooden packing crates or skids. It was first discovered in New Jersey in 2018 and in New York in 2020.

Although the colorful bug is no threat to humans or animals, it is known to feed on 70 types of plants and trees, potentially causing extensive and expensive damage.

More:Here are five of the most harmful invasive insects that have wreaked havoc in New Jersey

The timing is essential for residents to resume the bug battle now, before egg masses — often found on tree trunks — begin to hatch in May.

"For this next month before the eggs hatch, we are encouraging residents to look for spotted lanternfly egg masses and scrape them," an Agriculture Department spokesperson said Wednesday. "Each egg mass contains approximately 50 eggs, so each one that is scraped can help slow the spread of this invasive pest."

To encourage scraping, the department is distributing the plastic scrape cards through Rutgers' New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.

Any type of credit card can be used to scrape the eggs. Agriculture officials said "people will know the scraping is working when they hear a popping sound."

The fall frost last year killed off the 2021 summer invasion, but 20 state crews continued to combat the spotted lanternfly.

"Since November, our crews have scraped approximately 200,000 egg masses," an Agriculture Department spokesperson said.

Those crews also have used a product called golden oil to treat additional concentrations of egg masses. Consisting of 93% food-grade soybean oil, golden oil is an EPA-designated pesticide that smothers insects and eggs. It can be purchased and applied only by a certified pesticide applicator.

"Our goal is to use every method available to reduce the current populations and the spread of the spotted lanternfly to new areas," the department spokesperson said.

From last year:NJ squashed thousands of spotted lanternflies. Still, it's 'impossible to wipe them out'

Spotted lanternflies looking to feed tend to favor cultivated and wild grapes, fruit trees and hardwood trees common in woodlots and as landscape plantings, according to the Agricultural Experiment Station. 

During feeding, the bugs excrete significant amounts of honeydew, or sugar water. Honeydew deposits provide a food source for a sooty mold fungus that can grow on plant surfaces and fruit, leading to reduced photosynthesis and plant vigor.

So far, the bug has not caused significant damage, the Agriculture Department said. 

"While there was some spread last year, especially in locations where there was high traffic volume and in residential areas, there was no measurable damage to agricultural crops in 2021," the department spokesperson said.

But the threat of damage remains, as does the call for residents to enlist in the battle.

“We are targeting areas where severe infestations have been confirmed, and we also encourage residents to destroy the spotted lanternfly if possible when they see it.,” New Jersey Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher said last year. "It will take a combined effort to help keep this pest from spreading.”

Counties placed under the spotted lanternfly quarantine last year were Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, Monmouth, Middlesex, Salem, Somerset, Union and Warren.

Businesses operating in the quarantine zones in New Jersey and surrounding counties must have permits to move equipment and goods within and out of the zone. 

"The spring shipping season is upon us, and spotted lanternfly should be one of your top concerns," reads a March 9 advisory on the Rutgers website. 

People and businesses traveling in and out of these counties should inspect vehicles for hitchhiking lanternflies and inspect outdoor items such as packing bins, firewood, paving stones and lawn equipment for egg masses.

"Even though you may disagree with these measures, be advised that it remains within the discretion of any state to impose crippling load-by-load phytosanitary requirements on future deliveries," the advisory reads. "Load-rejections that occurred last fall underscore the seriousness of the spotted lanternfly situation and the far-reaching impact it might have on your business and the New Jersey industry at large."

As the spring and summer progress, residents are reminded to destroy spotted lanternflies found in any stage of life. For more information or to report a spotted lanternfly sighting, visit badbug.nj.gov.

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.