Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an aggressive invasive species that is present in several states. It is currently found in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, New York, West Virginia, Ohio, Connecticut, Indiana, and New Jersey with sightings in several other nearby states. Although this pest is not present in Nebraska, it is important to be vigilant for it.
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Spotted Lanternfly
Spotted lanternfly (SLF) was first discovered near Reading PA in 2014. Since then it has spread to several other states and poses a huge risk to fruit crops as well as hardwood trees. This publication is designed to be a quick handout to aid in awareness and identification of SLF. Eggs can be present year-round but are most observable between October and May. Nymphs usually hatch out sometime near May, maturing to adults around early August which will last up until November. Eggs can be laid on any hard surface, however, a favorite host is Tree-of-Heaven.
At this point, SLF has not been found in or near Nebraska. Due to its risk of spreading though it is imperative to be on the lookout for this pest which is potentially the worse invasive the US has seen in several decades. If you believe you have found SLF please contact the Nebraska Department of Agriculture or the Nebraska Forest Service. We would rather have false alarms than have an infestation go undetected for several years.
The current distribution of SLF in the United States can be found here.