At Harford County’s Fiore Winery, a plush toy version of the spotted lanternfly greets patrons entering the tasting room.
Its bright red, polka-dot wings are a beautiful display. But a flyer beneath it warns of the sinister truth about the invasive bug, which feeds on grapevines and other crops voraciously.
Located close to Pennsylvania, where the lanternfly began its U.S. invasion in 2014, Fiore has contended with them for a few years. And their incursion has taken a toll, said Tony Fiore, the vineyard’s operations manager.
