Spotted Lanternfly

Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, is an invasive planthopper native to China, India, and Vietnam; it is also established in South Korea, Japan and the U.S. It was first discovered in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in Berks County in 2014 and has spread to other counties in PA, as well as the states of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, Connecticut and Ohio.

The Spotted Lanternfly has the potential to greatly impact agricultural crops and hardwood trees. Spotted Lanternfly feeds on the plant sap of many different plants including grapevines, maples, black walnut, and other important plants in NJ. While it does not harm humans or animals, it can reduce the quality of life for people living in heavily infested areas. The Spotted Lanternfly is active May from December, but in the winter residents should be on the lookout for egg masses which can be on anything from trees to metal to plastic. Visit the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Website for more information.