The spotted lanternfly (SLF) is a sap-feeding planthopper, native to China, India and Vietnam, that was discovered in the United States in southeastern Pennsylvania in 2014.
Dead spotted lanternfly adults were found in two areas of southern Michigan in fall 2020. A colony of live spotted lanternfly was detected in Oakland County in August 2022. Refer to the article "First detection of spotted lanternfly in Michigan" for more information. As of January 2025, established infestations of this pest have now been identified in Macomb, Lenawee, Monroe, Oakland and Wayne counties, with small and isolated populations detected feeding on trees.
Information & Resources for Spotted Lanternfly
Here are more resources for learning more about this pest:
- Spotted lanternfly page on the State of Michigan's Invasive Species website. Includes current status in Michigan.
- Penn State University spotted lanternfly photos
- Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture website
- Penn State “The state of spotted lanternfly” webinar (Sept. 13, 2018)
- USDA APHIS Spotted Lanternfly web page
Banner image courtesy of Lawrence Barringer; Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture; Bugwood.org
This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program (grant no 2024-70006-43569) from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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