What Is the Spotted Lanternfly? How to Identify and Report It

The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive planthopper from Asia that has spread across the eastern United States since it was first found in Pennsylvania in 2014. It is a serious threat to grapes, hops, orchards, and hardwood trees, and officials in many states ask people to report — and squash — every one they see. Here is how to recognize it.

How to Identify a Spotted Lanternfly

The adult is about an inch long and, at rest, looks like a gray moth with black polka dots. The surprise comes when it opens its wings or hops: the hidden hindwings flash bright red with black spots and a white band. Look for these features:

• Adults (mid-summer to fall): tan-gray forewings with black spots, brilliant red-and-black hindwings, and a yellow, black-banded abdomen
• Early nymphs (spring): tiny, black with bright white spots, wingless
• Late nymphs (early summer): red and black with white spots
• Egg masses (fall to spring): gray, mud-like putty smears on tree trunks, rocks, furniture, and vehicles

Why It Matters

Spotted lanternflies feed in swarms on sap, weakening plants and coating leaves and ground in sticky "honeydew" that grows black sooty mold. They can devastate vineyards and stress trees, and they hitchhike as egg masses on cars, trailers, and firewood — which is how they spread so far, so fast.

What to Do If You Find One

• In an area under quarantine or where it is established, crush adults and nymphs and scrape egg masses into a bag with hand sanitizer or alcohol
• If you are outside the known range, photograph it and report it to your state department of agriculture — early detection matters most
• Check vehicles, firewood, and outdoor gear before traveling so you do not carry egg masses to a new area

Not sure whether the polka-dotted bug on your tree is really a spotted lanternfly? Snap a photo and Spotter will identify it in seconds, tell you whether it is invasive where you are, and explain what to do next.