LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has confirmed the spotted lanternfly has now been found in Wayne County.
This confirmation comes after a survey across Michigan that identified additional populations of the insect pest in Monroe, Wayne, and Oakland counties. While spotted lanternflies had previously been detected in Monroe and Oakland, these surveys revealed new infestations in each location.
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“These surveying efforts are crucial in our effort to slow the spread of spotted lanternfly, which can be a nuisance to Michiganders and is a source of concern for fruit growers,” said Steve Carlson, MDARD’s Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division Director. “MDARD’s proactive approach to gathering data through targeted surveying and collaboration with our state and local partners is essential to curbing the pest’s spread.”
What is a spotted lanternfly?
The spotted lanternfly feeds on more than 70 different plants including grapes, apples, hops and hardwood trees.
It was first detected in the United States in 2014 in southeastern Pennsylvania and has been spreading since. Infestations have been confirmed in Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Read: Michigan: Be on lookout for invasive spotted lanternfly
Why public awareness is vital
While spotted lanternflies cannot fly long distances, it can lay eggs on nearly any surface.
They have been known to lay eggs on cars, trailers, firewood, outdoor furniture and more.
Before you leave an infected area, you should check your vehicles, firewood and other outdoor equipment for hitchikers.
People and businesses receiving shipments from states known to have spotted lanternfly should be on the lookout for egg masses on goods and packing materials.
Read: Bodies of invasive spotted lanternfly found in Michigan
How does the spotted lanternfly cause damage?
It sucks sap from host plants while secreting large amounts of sugar-rich, sticky liquid called honeydew.
The honeydew and resulting black sooty mold can kill plants and foul surfaces. The honeydew attracts pests like yellow jackets, flies and ants.
Lifecycle of a spotted lanternfly
From late summer to the first hard frost, spotted lanternflies are in their adult stage and easiest to identify.
Adults are roughly one inch long. Their folded wings are gray to brown with black spots. Open wings reveal a yellow and black abdomen and bright red hind wings with black spots transitioning to black and white bands at the edge.
They lay egg masses in the fall. The masses resemble old chewing gum, with a gray, waxy, putty-like coating. Egg masses can survive winter temperatures and hatch in the spring.
Hatched eggs appear as brownish, seed-like deposits. Spotted lanternfly juveniles are wingless and are black with white spots, developing red patches in their final juvenile stage.
Read: Spotted lanternfly could be next invasive species in Michigan: What to know
What to do if you find a spotted lanternfly
If you find a spotted lanternfly egg mass, juvenile or adult take several photos and make note of the date, time and location of the sighting.
Then report it to MDARD via email at MDA-Info@Michigan.gov or by calling 800-292-3939. If you can, collect a specimen in a container for it to be verified.
Before traveling, check out the map of confirmed spotted lanternfly locations. For additional information on identifying or reporting, visit Michigan.gov/SpottedLanternfly.