Spotted Lanternfly

This issue tracker focuses on legislative, regulatory and selected other actions taken by federal and state governments to address the Spotted Lanternfly in the United States. 

11.9.23 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published in the Federal Register a notice informing the public of the release of a programmatic environmental assessment for the Spotted Lanternfly Cooperative Control Program in the conterminous United States. The programmatic environmental assessment is available for public review and comment until December 11, 2023.  

6.23.23 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) released a Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) Five-Year Strategy for fiscal years 2024-2028 to effectively tackle the spread of Spotted Lanternfly infestations across the United States. The strategy, developed by APHIS’s SLF Strategic Planning Working Group, which was established in August 2022, adopts a five-year approach addressing both immediate and long-term measures to curb the progression of the Spotted Lanternfly and minimize its detrimental effects on agricultural and natural resources throughout the country.  

4.28.23 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published a final Environmental Assessment (EA) of Expanded Spotted Lanternfly Control Program in Select States in the Midwest, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic Regions of the United States. After careful evaluation, USDA APHIS determined that the recommended modifications and adjustments to the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) program, as outlined in the preferred alternative, would have no significant adverse effects on human health or the environment. The preferred course of action involves expanding the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) program area to include the states of Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Rhode Island, adjusting the application methods of mist blowers and high-pressure hydraulic sprays, and introducing a new treatment method using high-pressure water for removing egg masses.  

2.17.23 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) of the Expanded Spotted Lanternfly Control Program in Select States in the Midwest, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic Regions of the United States. According to the draft EA, APHIS proposed adding Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan and Rhode Island to the Spotted Lanternfly control area, changing the “use pattern for mist blower and high-pressure hydraulic spray applications,” and including high-pressure water treatment for removing egg piles.

4.27.22 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) issued a statement it is working closely with states as well as researchers and Extension educators at Land-grant Universities, including Penn State University to “detect, contain, control and suppress” the spotted lanternfly.

11.8.21 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (AMS) announced the publication of a final Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Spotted Lanternfly Control Program in the Mid-Atlantic region, North Carolina, Ohio, and Kentucky. The SEA includes the same treatment and precautionary activities as the June 2020 EA and recommends ground-based mist blowers on railways, train yards, and rail terminals in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.

8.20.21 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (AMS) completed a draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Spotted Lanternfly Control Program in the Mid-Atlantic region, North Carolina, Ohio, and Kentucky. The draft SEA included the June 2020 activities and recommended the use of ground-based mist blowers—which utilize a motorized fan to propel insecticide through a nozzle—on railways, train yards, and rail terminals with multiple types of transportation in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.

June 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service published a final Environmental Assessment (EA) of the Spotted Lanternfly Control Program in the Mid-Atlantic Region, North Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

3.7.19 – Of the $10,073,380 funds allocated to state response efforts against the Spotted Lanternfly, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced that $7.1 million were allotted to Pennsylvania. USDA Under Secretary Greg Ibach stated, “Pennsylvania is a critical partner in protecting U.S. agriculture … With this funding, Pennsylvania will be able to better protect its own resources and, in doing so, contribute to USDA’s mission of keeping our nation’s agriculture economy healthy and strong.”

2.15.19 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (AMS) allocated $10,073,380 to fund response efforts against the Spotted Lanternfly in the states of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Delaware, and North Carolina. USDA made available to the public a spending plan for the 2019 fiscal year outlining the allocation of funds per state for the control of the Spotted Lanternfly.

May 2018 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (AMS) published a final Environmental Assessment (EA) of the Spotted Lanternfly Program in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

2.7.18 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue released $17.5 million in emergency funds to help bring an end to the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly in southeastern Pennsylvania. The action is the result of an upsurge of the invasive species in Pennsylvania, which saw the number of affected square miles increase from 174 in 2016 to approximately 3,000 in 2017. As a result, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been working with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) to develop an area-wide approach to fight the Spotted Lanternfly before the invasive species re-emerges this spring.

California 

7.16.21 – The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) approved a state exterior quarantine to prevent the possible spread of the Spotted Lanternfly within the state. Under the quarantine, the entry of the Spotted Lanternfly, its host plants, and various articles and conveyances that come from areas where there is infestation, is prohibited into California. The regulations governing the state exterior quarantine are codified in Section 3287 of Title 3 of the California Code of Regulations (3 CCR § 3287).

Connecticut 

10.15.19 – The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) reported a single live adult Spotted Lanternfly in Southbury.

9.21.20 – The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) reported the presence of a single live adult Spotted Lanternfly in the city of West Haven and multiple live adults in the town of Greenwich. 

5.25.21 – The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) announced that, as of July 1, 2021, the entire state of Connecticut will be subject to quarantine measures. This decision comes as a response to the recent identification of the Spotted Lanternfly within the town of Greenwich as well as the cities of Stamford and New Canaan. The quarantine will be in effect until December 31, 2021. 

1.3.22 – The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) renewed the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine order, starting from January 1, 2022.  

1.1.23 – The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) announced the renewable of the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) quarantine order which was initially put in place on July 1, 2021. The renewed quarantine order will now be effective from January 1, 2023, until December 31, 2023. Following this period, the Director of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station will reassess the status of the SLF situation in Connecticut and will determine whether to renew, rescind, or replace the quarantine order.  

1.3.24 – The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) extended its Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) quarantine order for the entire state until December 31, 2024. 

Delaware

2.28.19 – The Delaware Department of Agriculture issued emergency regulations to help stop the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly in the state and quarantined the following zip code areas in New Castle County: 19702, 19703, 19707, 19711, 19801, 19802, 19803, 19805, 19807, 19809, and 19810.

9.18.19 – The Delaware Department of Agriculture added all portions of New Castle county north of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal to the geographic scope of the February 28, 2019, quarantine order.

6.30.20 – The Delaware Department of Agriculture announced that, effective July 1, 2020, the entire New Castle County will be under quarantine due to the increasing presence of spotted lanternfly in Odessa. 

10.30.20 –The Delaware Department of Agriculture expanded the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine area to include all New Castle and Kent counties. The department recently found Spotted Lanternfly population within Kent county, including in Smyrna, Dover, and Harrington. 

7.12.22 – The Delaware Department of Agriculture announced that, effective July 12, 2022, the entire state of Delaware is put under the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine due to the recent detection and confirmation of Spotted Lanternfly population within the Sussex County, including Georgetown, Milford, Ocean View, Rehoboth, and Seaford. The regulations governing the state quarantine are codified in Title 3, Chapter 11, § 1103 of the Delaware Code.

Maryland 

10.28.19 – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) issued order # 19-02, establishing a Spotted Lanternfly quarantine area for Cecil and Harford Counties. 

1.20.22 – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) issued order # 19-02-A, amending the initial Spotted Lanternfly quarantine order issued on October 28, 2019, and expanded the quarantine area to additional counties and city, including Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Carroll County, Cecil County, Frederick County, Harford County, Howard County, Kent County, Montgomery County, and Washington County. 

3.6.23 – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) issued revised quarantine order # 19-02-B, expanding the quarantine area to additional counties. The expanded quarantine area now includes Allegany County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Calvert County, Caroline County, Carroll County, Cecil County, Frederick County, Harford County, Howard County, Kent County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Talbot County, Washington County, and Wicomico County. The quarantine order will remain in effect until it is rescinded or any further updates are provided.  

3.11.24 – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) issued amended quarantine order # 19-02-C, expanding the quarantine area to additional counties. Now included in the quarantine area are the Allegany County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Calvert County, Caroline County, Carroll County, Cecil County, Charles County, Frederick County, Garrett County, Harford County, Howard County, Kent County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Talbot County, Washington County and Wicomico County  

Massachusetts

2.21.19 – The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) issued a press release, cautioning that “a single dead specimen of spotted lanternfly, an invasive pest, was reported and confirmed at a private residence in Boston.” The department believed that the insect travelled from Pennsylvania on board of a poinsettia plants shipment and asked the public to pay close attention to any potted plants they could have received during the holiday seasons.

9.25.20 – The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) issued a press release, urging residents to signal the presence of invasive spotted lanternfly after it discovered two dead specimens of the spotted lanternfly in Massachusetts communities. According to the department, “[t]he specimens were recovered in towns of Milford and Norwood, and were brought into Massachusetts on materials shipped from Pennsylvania counties currently under a spotted lanternfly quarantine.”

8.22.21 – The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) announced it has found a single live nymph of the Spotted Lanternfly in the City of Fitchburg in July 2021. The department wrote that there is no evidence to believe that an infestation is present but urged the public to remain alert.

9.28.21 – The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) reported  in a press release that a small population of Spotted Lanternfly was found in the City of Fitchburg, near the area where a single live nymph was discovered in July 2021. The state Department declared that “currently the infestation is limited to a single cluster of three trees.” 

5.23.22 – The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) urged the public to report any sightings of the spotted lanternfly and inspect recently purchased shrubs or trees. The department suspects that trees shipped to Massachusetts may have been infested with the spotted lanternfly.

8.9.22 – The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) reported the discovery of spotted lanternflies within the state and urged the public to remain alert, especially in the Springfield area, and report any sightings of the pest.

Michigan

8.11.22 – The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDAR) reported its first sighting of the Spotted Lanternfly in Pontiac, Oakland county and urged the public to remain alert.

12.21.22 – The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDAR) announced in a press release that the Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Staff has treated the affected region in Oakland county and will continue their efforts to contain the species in the future.

New Jersey 

11.5.18 – The New Jersey Department of Agriculture issued a Spotted Lanternfly quarantine order for the counties of Warren, Hunterdon, and Mercer.

8.12.20 – The New Jersey Department of Agriculture expanded the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine order to additional counties, including Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, and Somerset.

8.30.21 – The New Jersey Department of Agriculture expanded the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine order to additional counties, including Morris, Monmouth, Middlesex, Essex, and Union.

New York 

10.2.18 – The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) announced the implementation of an exterior quarantine (Title 1 NYCRR, Part 142) limiting the movement of certain goods into the state from the states of Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

7.8.20 – The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) published in the New York State Register a notice of emergency and proposed rulemaking expanding the Spotted Lanternfly exterior quarantine area to several counties in the states of Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia. 

8.14.20 – The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) confirmed the presence of Spotted Lanternfly adult specimens in Clay Pit Ponds State Park Reserve, Staten Island.

9.23.20 – The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) published in the New York State Register a final rule expanding the exterior quarantine area for the Spotted Lanternfly. The final rule was accepted without changes to the July 8, 2020, proposed rule and became effective on October 8, 2020.

2.8.21 – The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) and Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), together with the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation announced the launch of an innovative online interface to assist in surveying for and reporting spotted lanternfly population.

Ohio 

10.27.20 – The Ohio Department of Agriculture reported a dead Spotted Lanternfly has been spotted on a commercial building in Mingo Junction in Jefferson county, along the Ohio River. According to the news release, the Department Plant Pest Control inspectors managed to capture alive five adult specimens located in trees nearby.

8.4.23 – The Ohio Department of Agriculture announced that the agency has identified multiple new spotted lanternfly infestations, including in Columbus and Toledo, and added Franklin, Hamilton, Lucas, Mahoning, and Muskingum counties to its spotted lanternfly quarantine, now totaling eight counties. 

Oregon 

10.8.20 – The Oregon Department of Agriculture announced that a dead Spotted Lanternfly was found by a nursery in a shipment of ceramic pots and planters from Pennsylvania. Oregon declined to implement control measures at this time. 

Pennsylvania

11.1.14 – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) published in the bulletin a quarantine order (44 Pa. B. 6947) establishing a Spotted Lanternfly quarantine area, which includes District Township and Pike Township in Berks county.

6.24.17 – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) published in the bulletin an addendum (47 Pa. B. 3496) to the quarantine order issued on November 1, 2014, expanding the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine area to Muhlenberg Township, and Laureldale and Temple Boroughs, Berks county; Springfield, East Rockhill, and West Rockhill Townships, and Perkasie, Sellersville and Telford Boroughs, Bucks county; and Telford Borough, Montgomery county.

5.26.18 – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) published in the bulletin a new quarantine order (48 Pa. B. 3094) establishing a Spotted Lanternfly quarantine area for the following counties: Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, and Schuylkill counties. This order rescinded and replaced the November 1, 2014, quarantine order and related addendum.

1.16.19 – The Office of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf issued a press release [webpage link is no longer available], stating that “[u]nder the governor’s PA Farm Bill—a package legislation designed to expand and protect agriculture infrastructure—the Pennsylvania Rapid Response Disaster Readiness Account will provide $3 million towards the containment of the Spotted Lanternfly. This is the second year in a row the governor allocated funding in the state budget to increase Spotted Lanternfly detection, control, and eradication efforts.”

3.16.19 – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture published in the bulletin an addendum (49 Pa. B. 1155) to the quarantine order issued on May 26, 2018, expanding the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine to Dauphin county.

3.14.20 – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture published in the bulletin an addendum (50 Pa. B. 1555) to May 26, 2018, quarantine order, adding twelve (12) more counties to the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine area: Allegheny, Beaver, Blair, Columbia, Cumberland, Huntington, Juniata, Luzerne, Mifflin, Northumberland, Perry, and York counties.

3.10.21 – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced in anticipation of the 2021 spring hatch that it now possesses the nation’s first dog trained to detect Spotted Lanternfly egg masses. Her name is Lucky, a female German Shepherd, and she was trained by the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine’s Working Dog Center.

 3.13.21 – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) published in the bulletin an order of quarantine (51 Pa. B 1346), establishing a new Spotted Lanternfly quarantine area for the following counties: Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Chester, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Huntington, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Philadelphia, Perry, Pike, Schuylkill, Wayne, Westmoreland, and York counties. This order rescinds and replaces any prior orders or addendums.

3.26.22 – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) published in the bulletin an addendum (51 Pa. B. 1744) to the quarantine order issued on March 13, 2021, adding eleven (11) more counties to the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine area: Adams, Armstrong, Bedford, Centre, Fulton, Indiana, Lycoming, Mercer, Snyder, Union, and Washington counties.

2.25.23 – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) published in the bulletin an addendum (53 Pa. B. 1066) to the March 13, 2021, quarantine order and expanding the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine area to six additional counties: Butler, Clearfield, Clinton, Fayette, Lawrence, and Somerset counties. Currently, quarantine rules for the Spotted Lanternfly apply to 51 out of 67 counties in Pennsylvania.

3.4.23 – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) posted a notice in the bulletin (53 Pa. B. 1181) announcing $150,000 in available grants for the state’s Spotted Lanternfly program. The grants are available to county Conservation Districts for activities to increase compliance with Spotted Lanternfly quarantines. According to the notice, the state department will prioritize multi-county projects in which one county serves as the lead coordinator for other counties. Grant applications close on April 7, 2023, 5 pm.

Virginia

12.23.19 – The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) issued final regulation 2VAC5-336 establishing a Spotted Lanternfly quarantine for the entire county of Frederick and the entire city of Winchester. The quarantine order became effective on December 2, 2019.

2.9.21 – The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) expanded the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine to include Clark and Warren counties.

5.26.22 – The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) issued a letter announcing the expansion of the regulated area of Virginia’s Regulations for Enforcement of the Virginia Tree and Crop Pests Law—Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine. The letter lists the additional cities and counties that will now be covered, including Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Manassas, Staunton, Waynesboro, Albemarle, Augusta, Carroll, Page, Prince William, Rockingham, Rockbridge, Shenandoah, and Wythe.

7.8.22 – The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) expanded the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine to additional counties and cities: Albemarle, Augusta, Carroll, Page, Prince William, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Wythe and the cities of Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, Staunton, and Waynesboro. The expanded quarantine still encompasses the previously listed counties of Frederick, Clarke, and Warren.

2.27.23 – The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) expanded the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine to additional counties and cities: Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Manassas Park, Staunton, and Waynesboro cities and Albemarle, Augusta, Carroll, Page, Prince William, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Wythe Counties.

West Virginia 

11.7.19 – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) announced in a press release it officially identified the Spotted Lanternfly in Berkeley County on October 30, 2019, and asked the public to watch out for the pest presence, especially in areas with trees of heaven.

9.13.23 – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) published a map showing the counties with confirmed spotted lanternfly cases: Hancock, Brooke, Taylor, Grant, Hardy, Mineral, Hampshire, Morgan, Berkeley, and Jefferson.