Resources for Identifying, Managing, and reporting Spotted Lanternfly
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive sap-feeding planthopper, first discovered in the United States in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014. While sighting of this harmful pest has been focused in the Northeastern U.S., the spotted lanternfly has a wide range of hosts including wild and cultivated grapes and stone fruits, and can cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage and/or total destruction of a crop. As the lanternfly can travel far distances through the air, it is pertinent to be vigilant in scouting vineyards, orchards, and fields to ensure proper management of this pest.
While there has yet to be a reported establishment of spotted lanternfly in the North Central region, there have been sightings of the insect in the Midwest. Proper scouting and response techniques have been prepared by the North Central Integrated Pest Management Center here. If you live in Iowa and suspect that you have observed spotted lanternfly, please contact the Iowa State University Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic here. For those outside the state of Iowa, please contact your area extension agent, or entomology department.