Environmental Education Schedule
Lehigh County Parks and Recreation sponsors a series of Environmental Education Programs at the Trexler Environmental Education Center. The schedule is in the link below. Programs are presented by the Wildlands Conservancy. Programs are free, but registration is required.
Registration Information
Online. To register for these programs, or for more information, click here www.wildlandspa.org
Phone: To register for these programs, or for more information call Wildlands Conservancy at 610-965-4397
To see the schedule, click on the link below.
Trexler Nature Preserve 2026 Environmental Education Programming Schedule
If you would like to stay informed about upcoming programs, sign up for our monthly newsletter here:
From PA Department of Agriculture
SPOTTED LANTERNFLY
Quick facts
Figure 1 Lateral view of an adult Lycorma delicatula Photograph by Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Description Spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, is an invasive planthopper that was first detected in North America in 2014 in southeastern Pennsylvania. It has now spread to other U.S. states. It is native to parts of Asia.
SLF feeds voraciously on many economically important crops like grapevines, hops, ornamental landscape plants, and many tree species. Heavy SLF feeding has contributed to the death of grapevines, the invasive tree Ailanthus altissima (tree-of-heaven, or TOH), and black walnut saplings. While SLF feeding can stress plants and cause localized branch damage, it is not known to directly kill other plants. SLF feeding is considered a plant stressor and may contribute to the long-term weakening of established plants and trees. It is currently considered to be primarily a nuisance pest in residential landscapes. Figure 2 Lycorma adult with wings spread showing colorful hind wing Photograph by Holly Raguza, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Variations in egg mass appearance. Credit: Heather Leach and Emelie Swackhamer, Penn State.
Beginning in late April to early May nymphs will hatch from egg masses laid on smooth bark, stone, and other vertical surfaces. Nymphs will complete four immature stages. The first stage (3) is black with white spots and wingless. As it grows, the Spotted Lanternfly will start to develop red patches (4) in addition to the white spots. Nymphs spread from the initial site by crawling and feeding on woody and non-woody plants.
Adults can be seen as early as July and take on a much different appearance. Adults at rest have a black head and grayish wings with black spots. The tips of the wings are a combination of black rectangular blocks with grey outlines. When startled or flying the Spotted Lanternfly will display hind wings that are red and black blocks with a white stripe dividing them. The red portion of the wing is also adorned with black spots. The abdomen is also a yellowish white with bands of black on the top and bottom. While a poor flyer, the Spotted Lanternfly is a strong jumper. In the fall, adults switch hosts to focus on Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). This introduced invasive tree is the preferred host that the adults feed on in the fall and is used preferentially for egg laying. However, Tree of Heaven is not the only tree or surface the Spotted Lanternfly will lay eggs upon – any smooth trunked tree, stone or vertical smooth surface can provide a potential host for eggs masses. Manmade items like vehicles, campers, yard furniture, farm equipment or any other items stored outside are suitable sites for egg laying. Egg laying begins in late September and continues up through the onset of winter. This pest poses a significant threat to the state’s more than $20.5 million grape, nearly $134 million apple, and more than $24 million stone fruit industries. Pine and hardwood logging in Pennsylvania also accounts for $12 billion in sales.
Signs and Symptoms: In the spring search for the nymphs on smaller plants and vines. Fruit trees and grapes can be especially susceptible to damage and mortality under larger populations. As the year progresses the Spotted Lanternfly host choice will transition to trees. Trees can be afflicted with weeping wounds of sap on the trunks. Heavy populations can cause honey dew secretions to build up at the base of the tree, blackening the soil around the base. The largest colonies can produce large fungal mats at the base of tree. Increased activity of wasps, hornets, bees, and ants can be seen feeding on honeydew secretions and at tree wounds. Egg masses can also be found on trees, especially Ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven) and other smooth bark trees. Smooth surfaces outdoors such as lawn furniture, stone and brick work, and outdoor recreational vehicles can also harbor egg masses. These masses pose a great risk for the accidental transport of this pest to new areas. Egg masses are present in October and will hatch in the spring starting as early as April. Response: The department is reviewing a variety of options including eradication. Currently a quarantine is in place to stop the movement of this pest to new areas and to slow its spread within the quarantine.
What to do if you: See eggs: Scrape them off the tree or smooth surface, double bag them and throw them in the garbage, or place the eggs in alcohol or hand sanitizer to kill them. Collect a specimen: Turn the adult specimen or egg mass in to the department’s Entomology Lab for verification. First, place the sample in alcohol or hand sanitizer in a leak proof container. A Sample Submission Form can be found in the Publications section below. Take a picture: Submit photographs to Badbug@pa.gov. Report a site: Call the Bad Bug hotline at 1-866-253-7189 with details of the siting and your contact information.
For more information or to report possible populations of Spotted Lanternfly:
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Emerald Ash Borer
The emerald ash borer is a half-inch long metallic green beetle with the scientific name. Larvae of this beetle feed under the bark of ash trees. Their feeding eventually girdles and kills branches and entire trees. Emerald ash borer was first identified in North America in southeastern Michigan in 2002. In the years since that discovery, the beetle has spread across many states and into Pennsylvania. It has spread across Pennsylvania from west to east. Infestations have been identified in counties adjacent to Lehigh County.
Emerald ash borer feeds exclusively on ash trees in North America. Host species include green ash, white ash, black ash, blue ash, and pumpkin ash. Tens of millions of ash trees have been lost to this pest, which usually kills ash trees within 3-4 years of infestation.
To report possible infested trees in Pennsylvania, contact: The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture 1-866-253-7189
Symptoms of emerald ash borer infestation include upper crown dieback, epicormic branching, bark splits and bark flaking, or tissue damage resulting from woodpecker predation.
Signs of emerald ash borer include the adult beetle or larva, “D” shaped exit holes, and “S” shaped larval galleries under the bark. Source: PA Bureau of Forestry