To help kick off the Invasive Species Centre’s 15th Anniversary, the organization is pleased to partner with artist Laura Fedynyszyn to highlight the potential impacts of the invasive spotted lanternfly (SLF) if it were to spread to Ontario. The exhibit is part of Evergreen Brick Works’ Earth Month programming and will be on display from now until April 30, from 9am-5pm, in the Young Centre at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto, Ontario.
Spotted lanternfly is a destructive invasive insect species that is in 18 U.S. States, including some that border Ontario. No populations of SLF have been confirmed in Canada. With preferred hosts of SLF including native hardwood and fruit trees and cultivated grapevines, the insect would impact Ontario’s $5.49-billion grape and wine industry, as well as horticulture, forestry, outdoor recreation, and plant health more broadly.
“Education and awareness are key components of prevention, which we know is the most cost-effective method of managing invasive species,” says Colin Cassin, Invasive Species Centre Executive Director. “This exhibit is a powerful example of the types of partnerships that have shaped 15 years of meaningful progress at the Invasive Species Centre.”
The artwork, Memorial for Trees Not Yet Fallen III, focuses on the potential impacts to Ontario’s ecosystem and economy. The piece consists of wreaths made from dried riverbank grape vine that are covered in prints of spotted lanternflies. They borrow forms from Victorian-era hair wreaths, which were made as tangible mementos to mourn loved ones who had passed away. “This artwork is an act of anticipatory grief and mourns the plants we might lose if SLF continues to move northward and establish in Ontario,” explains the artist, Laura Fedynyszyn.
To help prevent the introduction of SLF, learn to recognize them at all life stages (eggs, nymphs and adults) and report all sightings to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Remember, good reports include clear photos and location coordinates.
For more information on spotted lanternfly, visit the species profile www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/slf
