Spotted lanternfly
Ohio Cooperative Living editor Jeff McCallister asked me to look into this next bit of wildlife news, which, unfortunately, is not as encouraging as that of the nesting piping plovers. Yet another invasive species has recently turned up in Ohio — the spotted lanternfly. Measuring only about an inch long, this purplish, blue-black winged insect could prove disastrous to the Buckeye State’s grape and wine industries because of its fondness for grapevines. Another plant in jeopardy from the insect is tree-of-heaven, also known as Ailanthus.
Native to Asia, spotted lanternflies were first detected in the United States in eastern Pennsylvania in 2014, likely arriving by hitchhiking on imported woody plants/wood products. Spotted lanternflies were first detected in Ohio during the autumn of 2020 in Jefferson County at Mingo Junction, located just south of Steubenville along the Ohio River. The latest detection of the insect, occurring on Aug. 26, 2021, was from Cuyahoga County on the east side of Cleveland.
Now through November is the best time of year to identify spotted lanternflies because the insects are in their most recognizable of five life stages as colorful, winged adults. If you believe you have seen a spotted lanternfly in your area, please report the sighting by going to ODA’s Spotted Lanternfly Information Page and filling out a suspected infestation report. You may also call the ODA’s Plant Pest Control Division at 614-728-6400.
