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Spotted lanternfly in peak season; public asked for vigilance

A new invasive insect is trying to make Georgia its home — and the public’s help is critical to tracking the invasion, according to University of Georgia researchers. The spotted lanternfly, an insect native to Asia, was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014. Since then, lanternflies steadily spread across the eastern United States and has now been confirmed in 19 states, including Georgia and, most recently, South Carolina.

Researchers say it is peak season for the adult pests now, so experts are asking people to keep watch through the summer.

Georgia is the southernmost state with confirmed lanternfly populations, so far only in Fulton County. The pest hasn’t been here long enough for scientists to fully understand its lifecycle in this region. That makes public reports especially valuable for tracking seasonal patterns and range expansion, researchers said.

On Nov. 14, 2024, the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) received confirmation from the USDA that the first detection of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula or SLF), an invasive planthopper that poses a serious risk to the state's fruit and forest sectors, was made in Fulton County. The SLF was found on Oct. 22 and confirmed by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

Here are some fast facts about the spotted lanternfly:

They are about an inch long with grayish-brown front wings with black spots and dramatic hindwings with cream, brown and red patches.

It feeds on more than 70 plant species, including economically important hardwood trees, roses, hops, grapevines and stone fruits.

It excretes a sugary fluid that can attracts black mold growth.

They congregate in groups, especially lower down on plant surfaces. 

They are not strong flyers and hop or fly clumsily around.

The lanternfly’s preferred host is the tree-of-heaven, which can grow quickly along roadsides, railways and other areas with recently disturbed soil, like construction sites.

If you spot a lanternfly, researchers ask that you snap a clear picture, smash the bug and report the sighting through EDDMapS, or reach out to your local University of Georgia county agent for assistance. 

To combat this threat, Georgians are encouraged to take immediate action if they spot a SLF:

Take a clear picture of the pest.

Kill it.

Report your sighting using our online reporting tool at https://www.gainvasives.org/slf/report/.

For residents seeking professional treatment options, the GDA offers lists of licensed pesticide professionals who can provide assistance with applications.

Search for Pesticide Contractors

Search for Pest Control Companies

Local UGA Cooperative Extension offices can offer advice and options to control Spotted Lanternflies.

About Spotted Lanternflies: Although the SLF does not pose a direct threat to human health, it feeds on a variety of plants, including grapes, hops, stone fruits, and hardwood trees. Its feeding weakens these plants and produces a sticky, sugary fluid that encourages the growth of sooty mold, further harming crops. While the SLF prefers the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), it can significantly impact many other species.

The SLF overwinters in its egg stage, laying eggs from September to November, which then survive through the winter months until hatching in the spring when temperatures warm up. The adult lanternflies die with the first hard frost, but their eggs remain viable throughout the winter. This stage of their life cycle is expected to take place over the coming weeks.

Newly laid egg masses (holding 30-50 eggs) resemble wet, gray putty before turning dull and brown, mirroring a smear of cracked mud. The 1-inch long egg masses can be seen in fall, winter, and spring on a variety of smooth surfaces, such as trees, bricks, stones, fences, grills, equipment, and vehicles. 

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