The invasive plant-hopping Spotted Lanternfly, indigenous to Asia, has made its way to the eastern U.S., probably via a cargo ship from Asia in 2012 into Philadelphia. It has since migrated into 19 eastern states. It will eventually hop a train, or some other mode of transportation, to the rest of the country.
Its reproductive rate and ability to live off of many plants, makes it is unlikely that we can eradicate the Lanternfly. This is bad news.
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| If you see this, kill it and report it |
The Lanternfly feeds on the sap of plants and on fruit. The California table, raisin, and wine grape crop plus other fruits and nuts are worth over $20 billion. This insect likes hardwood trees, grapes, and stone fruit, and really loves the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), native to Asia.
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| Tree of Heaven If you have one, cut it down then put it through the chipper or burn it |
The Lanternfly damages plants by feeding on them and by the sticky, sappy excrement that promotes mold. They feed in swarms and will damage or kill plants. They are especially harmful to grape vines.
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| Spotted Lanternflies on grape clusters image from Penn State Univ |
They travel via their egg masses. Freshly laid eggs are light gray with a mud-like covering. When they've hatched, the mud-like substance is gone.
Although they have not yet been found in California, in June 2024 their eggs were found on an art installation en route to Sonoma County. A live specimen has not been found in Oregon, though a dead fly showed up in a shipment to Corvallis in 2020. There have been potential sightings, but no confirmed sightings, in Washington State.
To report call the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture hotline 1-800-491-1899
In Oregon 1-866-INVADER
In Washington, report online
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