The Spotted Lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, was detected in Frederick County, Virginia, on January 10, 2018. The Spotted Lanternfly has been categorized as dangerous and destructive to the agriculture, horticulture, and forests of the Commonwealth by the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Although the Spotted Lanternfly is most commonly found on Ailanthus, (tree-of-heaven), it can be found on over 70 other species of trees including grapes, hops, peaches, and other tree fruits. The Spotted Lanternfly is a new pest to the United States with the potential of becoming a serious pest of agriculture, and home gardens in Virginia.
A quarantine has been established to restrict the movement of certain articles, and prevent artificial spread.
The following areas in Virginia are quarantined for Spotted Lanternfly:
- The county of Frederick.
- The city of Winchester.
What can you do?
It is important to look out for the spotted lanternfly, and report any finds.
- If you think you have found a spotted lanternfly, you can take a sample specimen to your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.
- You can also submit pictures electronically at: https://ask.extension.org/groups/1981/ask.
For more information and to learn how to identify the spotted lanternfly, visit Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Spotted Lanternfly page at: ext.vt.edu/spotted-lanternfly.
