Spotting the Spot - Summertime Spotted Lanternfly Update

Are you seeing spots? - Spotted lanternfly (SLF) that is. 

 

SLF began hatching earlier this spring. The immature stage of this non-native invasive insect pest goes through 4 stages or instars before becoming an adult. The first 3 stages are black with white spots.

  

The fourth stage of the nymphs are red with black and white markings, along with an adult SLF (Photo Credit: Emelie Swackhamer, Penn State University). Currently in Ohio, the majority of SLF are in the 4th instar and the adult stages. The nymphs are wingless and utilize their legs to walk and jump - and they can jump. Adults continue to rely on their legs to walk and jump, but also use their wings to fly, and glide.

 

Adult SLF are approximately one inch long and half an inch wide (Photo Credit: Amy Stone, OSU Extension, Lucas County), with distinctive black-spotted, grey forewings and red, black, and white hindwings. When at rest, they typically hold their wings over their bodies, obscuring the colorful hindwings. Their abdomens are yellow with black bands. Adults are beginning to make their presence known and will be active until the first frost. 

 

The nymphs and adults are prolific honeydew producers as they are feeding on the host plants. When insects are feeding above, their excrement can give the appearance that it is softly raining - even on the sunniest of days. 

 

In May of 2025, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) expanded the SLF quarantine to include 18 Ohio counties. Those counties include: 

 

• Belmont
• Carroll
• Columbiana
• Cuyahoga
• Erie
• Franklin
• Hamilton
• Jefferson
• Lorain
• Lucas
• Mahoning
• Muskingum
• Ottawa
• Portage
• Seneca
• Summit
• Trumbull
• Wood

 

While reporting infestations of SLF is important to continually monitor the spread of this non-native invasive species, reports are no longer necessary in counties that are already included in the quarantine.

 

If you are seeing SLF in a non-quarantined Ohio county, you can report your observation including the actual location and photo through the ODA Ohio Plant Pest Reporter (https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/1b36dd2cf09e4be0a79776a6104ce1dc) or the Great Lakes Early Detection Network (GLEDN) App (https://apps.bugwood.org/apps/gledn/). 

 

Information about managing SLF can be found in the Penn State SLF Management Guide at:  https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly-management-guide 

  

More Information

ODA SLF Website

https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/plant-health/invasive-pests/invasive-insects/slf