Ohio is currently facing an unwelcome guest: the spotted lanternfly.
This invasive species has been creeping its way into our state, and now, a dozen counties are under quarantine as the lanternfly enters its breeding season. Sadly for all of us, this pest has been spotted right here in Franklin County.
What’s the Deal with the Spotted Lanternfly?
First spotted in Pennsylvania in 2016, the spotted lanternfly made its Ohio debut in 2020, and it hasn’t slowed down since. Native to Asia, these pests are especially harmful to agriculture, with a particular love for grapes, hops, and trees. And they’re not picky eaters—their feeding can cause plants to wilt, die, and become vulnerable to other issues like mold. Their favorite food? The tree of heaven, which, fun fact, is also invasive.
But it’s not just their munching that’s problematic. Spotted lanternflies produce a sticky substance called honeydew, which attracts ants, flies, and wasps. Worse, it creates the perfect environment for sooty mold, a fungus that can wreak havoc on crops like grapes and hops—two things we’re pretty fond of here in Ohio.
Counties Under Quarantine
So far, twelve Ohio counties have been placed under quarantine due to the spread of the spotted lanternfly. Here’s the full list:
- Belmont
- Columbiana
- Cuyahoga
- Erie
- Franklin
- Hamilton
- Jefferson
- Lorain
- Lucas
- Mahoning
- Muskingum
- Ottawa
What does a quarantine mean? It means that certain restrictions are in place to prevent the further spread of these pests. For example, moving firewood, logs, trees, and plants from quarantined areas to non-infested counties is tightly regulated. So, if you’re planning on bringing home firewood from your camping trip or buying trees from a nursery, make sure you’re not accidentally transporting lanternfly eggs with you.
What You Can Do to Help
October through December is the prime time for spotted lanternflies to lay their eggs, so now’s the time to take action. The Ohio Department of Agriculture suggests keeping an eye out for egg masses, which look like small, gray, waxy patches on trees, outdoor furniture, firewood, or even rocks. If you see one, you can help stop the spread by scraping the egg mass into soapy water or rubbing alcohol to kill them.
And if you see the actual bug? Well, there’s only one thing to do: smash it. The ODA encourages people to kill spotted lanternflies on sight—no mercy here.
For larger infestations, you might need to call in the professionals or consider insecticides. Just be mindful—some insecticides can harm beneficial bugs like pollinators, so it’s important to read up on what’s best for your situation.
The Lanternfly Life Cycle
Lanternflies lay their eggs in the fall, and those eggs will hatch around April. The nymphs go through four stages before turning into adults by June, and from there, the adults are active through December. While most adult lanternflies die off in the winter, their eggs can survive, which is why it’s so important to keep an eye out for egg masses this time of year.
Report a Sighting
If you see a spotted lanternfly outside one of the quarantined counties, don’t just ignore it. You can report it to the Ohio Department of Agriculture using their Ohio Plant Pest Reporter. The more people report sightings, the better we can track and contain this invasive pest.
Ohio’s fight against the spotted lanternfly is far from over, but with everyone pitching in—whether it’s smashing a bug, destroying eggs, or reporting a sighting—we can help protect our state’s crops and natural resources from further damage.
