Spotted Lanternfly has been confirmed in Erie County
Spotted lanternfly or SLF, is an invasive insect pest from Asia that primarily feeds on trees of heaven (Alianthus altissima) but can also feed on a wide variety of plants such as grapevine, hops, maple, walnut, and fruit trees. SLF pose a significant threat to New York’s agricultural industry, negatively impacts outdoor recreation, and may impact forest health.
More information about SLF can be found here: Spotted Lanternfly – NYSDEC
The NYS Integrated Pest Management program has information on how you can manage SLF if you find it on your property, including how to destroy egg masses, how to prevent them from spreading, and different ways to kill the bugs that you find.
- Take pictures of the insect, egg masses and/or infestation signs as described above (include something for scale such as a coin or ruler) and email to spottedlanternfly@agriculture.ny.gov.
- Note the location (address, intersecting roads, landmarks or GPS coordinates).
After you have reported SLF in your area and collected a sample, you should kill any additional SLF you see by stepping on it or crushing it.