The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, is an invasive planthopper native to Asia that poses a severe threat to North American agriculture and forestry. Since its first detection in the United States, this pest has rapidly spread, feeding on the sap of over 70 different plant species. Immediate action is required upon finding this insect, as its feeding can weaken and kill valuable crops, including grapevines, fruit trees, and various hardwoods. The sheer number of these insects and the sticky “honeydew” they excrete, which promotes the growth of sooty mold, make them a significant nuisance and economic danger.
Confirming the Sighting
Correctly identifying the Spotted Lanternfly is the first step, ensuring you are not targeting a beneficial native species. The insect undergoes several distinct life stages, with the two most common being the late-stage nymph and the adult. Young nymphs are small, black, and marked with bright white spots, often mistaken for tiny ticks.
As nymphs mature, they become larger and develop striking red patches, retaining the black and white spots. The adult insect is approximately one inch long and half an inch wide when resting, holding its wings tent-like over its body. In this resting posture, the forewings are gray with black spots and a fine network pattern near the tips.
When startled or in flight, the adult reveals its vibrant hindwings, which display stark patches of red and black with a white band. The abdomen is yellow with broad black stripes. If you observe an insect matching these distinct visual markers, you have confirmed a Spotted Lanternfly sighting and must proceed with physical elimination.
Immediate Response: Stomp and Secure
The most direct and effective action upon finding a live Spotted Lanternfly nymph or adult is to destroy it immediately. Because they are excellent jumpers, they can be difficult to catch, but methods like stomping or quickly smashing the insect are recommended. Do not hesitate to use the sole of your shoe to crush the pest, as every individual eliminated helps slow the spread of the population.
For those who find physical smashing difficult, you can use a plastic bottle or jar to quickly trap and contain the insect. Some people find success using a common household fly swatter, which provides a wider surface area for impact. The goal is swift and total destruction of the individual insect.
Once the pest has been killed, it is important to secure the remains for evidence. Place the destroyed insect into a sealed plastic bag or a container filled with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer. Securing the specimen is helpful for state officials who may need to confirm the sighting, especially if the location is outside of an already quarantined area.
Mandatory Reporting Protocols
After killing and securing the insect, report the sighting to the appropriate state or federal agricultural agency. Reporting helps officials track the pest’s spread and determine where to focus control and quarantine efforts, typically via an online form or a dedicated state hotline.
You must gather specific information before submitting your report. This includes the exact location of the sighting, the date, time, and the life stage and quantity of the Spotted Lanternflies observed. Location can often be captured automatically if you take a photograph with GPS enabled on your smartphone.
Take several clear photographs of the insect and the surrounding area, if possible, as photographic evidence is highly valued for confirmation. Many states, such as Pennsylvania and New Jersey, provide direct telephone hotlines, such as 1-888-4BAD-FLY, to report sightings if you are unable to use an online system.
If the sighting is outside of a known infested or quarantined zone, immediate and detailed reporting is absolutely mandatory to protect surrounding agricultural areas. If the sighting occurs in a county already under a quarantine order, officials may instead direct you to focus on control methods on your own property.
Managing Property and Preventing Spread
Beyond eliminating single adults, long-term management requires vigilance against stationary egg masses. Female Spotted Lanternflies lay masses of 30 to 50 eggs, usually covered by a putty-like substance. These masses are typically found on smooth surfaces, including tree trunks, rocks, outdoor furniture, and vehicles, from late fall through early spring. You must inspect your property for these masses and destroy any found by scraping them off the surface.
Use a stiff plastic card or putty knife to scrape the entire mass into a sealed bag or container. To ensure the eggs are non-viable, the bag should contain rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer, which kills the embryos upon contact.
Focus inspection on common host plants, especially the invasive Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), which the Spotted Lanternfly strongly prefers. If you notice a heavy infestation on your property, particularly on high-value plants, contact a licensed pest control professional or your local agricultural extension office for advice on targeted chemical treatments.
Because the Spotted Lanternfly is a notorious hitchhiker, always inspect items and vehicles before moving them, especially when traveling out of a quarantined area. Check vehicle wheel wells, truck beds, campers, grills, and any outdoor equipment for adults, nymphs, or egg masses to prevent transporting the pest to new locations.