Shea Collins

As a field technician for the MDA's Spotted Lanternfly(SLF) program, responsibilities include the regular surveying of properties both public and private for the presence of SLF, or their host plants. In addition to surveying, different treatment methods would be used throughout the year to ensure that the SLF population does not spread either within Maryland, or the US as a whole. Certain treatments involve the use of specific pesticides which require a pesticide applicator's license which I had obtained through work. In the early spring it was necessary to scout out trees that could be used for trapping insects. These traps would serve as indicators of where SLF may be appearing, as well as their population in a given area.