Spotted Lanternfly, an Invasive Pest Threatening Grapes and Other Crops, Found in Ithaca, NY

Spotted lanternfly adult. Photo by Michael Houtz.

A population of spotted lanternfly (SLF) has been found in Ithaca, NY, just off the Cornell University campus.

They were found on their favorite host plant, another invasive species, tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima). However, SLF also feeds on many other trees and plants, which, unfortunately, includes grapevines. With New York State’s important Finger Lakes grape-growing region and wine industries so close to Ithaca, state agencies and researchers are particularly concerned about this pest’s impact in the region.

While SLF is native to Asia, it was first found in the U.S. in Pennsylvania, where it has caused significant economic damage. The New York State IPM Program and the Northeastern IPM Center, in conjunction with the state’s Department of Agriculture and Markets and Department of Environmental Conservation, have been preparing for SLF’s potential arrival in New York for the last few years.

This partnership has yielded educational resources to help the public recognize the insect and prevent its spread, including a frequently updated map tracking confirmed locations and quarantine perimeters across the Mid-Atlantic and greater Northeast region.

Visit neipmc.org/go/DgHf for more information on this latest SLF find, including an assortment of additional resources and illustrated guides.