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CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has confirmed that the invasive Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) has spread to over 50 municipalities across nine counties in the state.
MDAR is urging residents and businesses in the affected areas to follow guidance strategies to manage the pest and prevent its further spread. The Spotted Lanternfly, which feeds on the sap of over 100 plant species, poses a threat to grapevines and small tree saplings, although it is not harmful to people or pets.
“With populations of spotted lanternfly expanding, we expect that more residents will start to see SLF activity at home or where they work,” said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. “Because MDAR has limited resources for management, the agency is focusing on slowing the spread of this pest in areas where agriculture is most at risk, as well as locations where there are businesses at risk of accidentally spreading SLF to new areas.”
MAP: Spotted lanternfly in Massachusetts
For more information on invasive pests in your neighborhood, visit the MDAR interactive dashboard.
Stages of spotted lanternfly
Spotted Lanternflies are currently entering their adult stage, marked by gray wings with black spots and red hindwings. Residents are encouraged to be vigilant, especially in areas with grapevines, tree-of-heaven, bittersweet, maple, or black walnut.
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Spotted lanternfly stages -
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Spotted lanternfly first instar nymph (immature). Note that the nymph is black with white spots. This coloration persists through the third instar. Photo courtesy of Gregory Hoover. -
Spotted lanternfly fourth (final) instar nymph (immature). Note the color change to red and black with white spots. Photo courtesy of Gregory Hoover. -
Spotted Lanternfly. (Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture) -
Photo sent to 22News from Luke Fish -
Photo: Spotted lanternfly adult (left) and late-stage nymph (right) (Credit: USDA) -
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Photo sent to 22News from Diane Hamelin in Springfield -
A mature spotted lanternfly found in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The bug is in this stage between July and December. (Getty) -
This photo shows a Spotted Lanternfly, in Long Branch, NJ, Aug. 7, 2022. Kill-on-sight requests in New York City and elsewhere are part of an aggressive campaign against an invasive pest that has spread to about a dozen states in eight years. (Heide Estes via AP)
The most noticeable impact of the spotted lanternfly is the sticky residue known as honeydew, which can be an inconvenience for outdoor activities.
What to do when you find a spotted lanternfly in Massachusetts
MDAR’s SLF Management Guide provides practical solutions for dealing with this pest, including advice on setting up traps and removing host plants like tree-of-heaven.
Due to the high volume of calls MDAR has received, the public is asked to check an online map to see if SLF has already been reported in their area before contacting the department. New sightings should be documented with a photo and reported via mass.gov/slf.
As the Spotted Lanternfly continues to spread, MDAR is focusing its efforts on slowing the pest’s expansion in areas where agriculture is most at risk. Residents and businesses are encouraged to take proactive measures to manage the pest and report new sightings.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WWLP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WWLP staff before being published.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
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Ashley Shook
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