Invasive Species Alert – Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula)
October 7, 2018
First discovered in the Pennsylvania in 2014, the Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive insect from Southeast Asia that could have a devastating affect on plants and trees in the United States. Members of the grapevine, hops, maple, walnut, and fruit tree families are especially vulnerable. The invasive insect has the potential to cause widespread damage to New York State crops and have a significant impact on forest health.
What can I do?
- Learn to identify the Spotted Lanternfly: See https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/113303.html and download the fact sheet (PDF, 450 KB)
- Inspect outdoor items such as firewood, vehicles, and furniture for egg masses. If you find an egg mass, be careful to remove and destroy all eggs without spreading them.
- If you see a Spotted Lanternfly, send a message and photos to spottedlanternfly@dec.ny.gov. Please include the location where the insect was found.
Additional resources include a smartphone application that can aid citizens and conservation professionals in quickly and easily reporting new invasive species sightings directly to New York’s invasive species database. For more information visit, https://www.nyimapinvasives.org/.
Further Reading:
- DEC and DAM Announce Confirmed Finding of Spotted Lanternfly in Albany and Yates Counties.
State Agencies Encourage Public to Report Findings of Invasive Pest. Tuesday, September 11, 2018 https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/114646.html - Species dedicated site: https://spottedlanternfly.com/