Christmas-tree infesting pest spotted in Maryland

CECIL COUNTY - An invasive pest that can use a variety of trees - including Christmas trees - to spread has been spotted in Maryland.

The lanternfly, which was recently confirmed in Virginia, has now made its way to Cecil County in Maryland.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture says a single adult spotted lanternfly was found in a trap in the northeast corner of Cecil County near the Pennsylvania border.

They do not believe there is an established population of the pest in the state.

They say the spotted lanternfly poses a major threat to the region's agricultural industries as they feed on more than 70 different types of plants and crops.