ANNAPOLIS, MD – Maryland agriculture officials announced new quarantine measures on March 6, 2026, targeting an invasive moth species that threatens local ecosystems.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture has implemented an immediate quarantine for box tree moths (Cydalima perspectalis) covering the entirety of Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties. The emergency restrictions will limit the transportation of certain regulated materials from these areas.
Simultaneously, state officials have broadened their existing quarantine protocols for spotted lanternfly populations in the same four-county region.
The quarantine measures take effect without delay as agriculture specialists work to contain the spread of these destructive invasive insects that pose significant risks to Maryland’s plant life and agricultural economy.
