A new online tool created using research by scientists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences helps predict the seasonal egg hatch for spotted lanternflies, according to a staff report from the Morrisons Cove Herald.

PestWatch uses weather records for specific dates and durations to offer an estimate of first instar emergence. The estimate is based on current temperature conditions.

Users can use the tool to zero in on a geographic region to see how high the probability is of an egg hatch in that area based on the experienced weather conditions to the present date.

The percentage is displayed in colors that indicate the probability of a hatch, from light yellow representing no hatches to dark burgundy for 100 percent chance.

As of the start of the month, the majority of Pennsylvania is represented in burgundy. This means that in any area where lanternflies might be present there is enough accumulated heat for the eggs to have hatched.

“Having a better idea of when eggs will hatch can help with control tactics to reduce the number of first-instar nymphs,” said lead researcher Erica Smyers.

The spotted lanternfly was discovered in North America in Berks County in 2014.

Read more about the tool in the Morrisons Cove Herald.