Invasive spotted lanternfly seen in Lexington

Agriculture experts ask residents here to report sightings

  • Nymphs, pictured on the right, resemble a cross between a beetle and a ladybug. Nymphs can be red, as is pictured, or black with similar detail. The adult spotted lanternfly is pictured on the left. Its wings in this photo are folded. All photos are from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
    Nymphs, pictured on the right, resemble a cross between a beetle and a ladybug. Nymphs can be red, as is pictured, or black with similar detail. The adult spotted lanternfly is pictured on the left. Its wings in this photo are folded. All photos are from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
  • These “mud smears” are actually spotted lanternfly eggs. They can be found on vehicles or any surface that accommodates the “smear.”
    These “mud smears” are actually spotted lanternfly eggs. They can be found on vehicles or any surface that accommodates the “smear.”
  • Spotted lanternfly lookalikes
    Spotted lanternfly lookalikes

    By Carolyn Reid

    Pendleton County Cooperative Extension Office released an announcement on Facebook last week that the spotted lanternfly was in Kentucky. The pest had been seen in Lexington.

    That is too close for extension agent Lindie Huffman. 

    Huffman, who supports county farmers through her work at the extension office, explains these pests are more formidable than are the emerald ash borers that attacked ash trees across the region several years ago.

    “Lanternflies are more prolific. While the ash borer focused on ash trees, lanternflies are less exclusive. They will attack grape vines, maple trees, black walnuts--over 100 types of plants and trees, including crops, and they prefer the invasive plant, the tree-of-heaven.”

    The population of that preferred plant in the county will draw them here especially, Huffman warns.

    The spotted lanternfly is native to China and other Asian countries. It was spotted in Pennsylvania in 2014, and in July of 2022, Purdue reported its presence in Northern Indiana. 

    And they are clever at finding transportation.

    “They were found in Pennsylvania because they had attached themselves to things like shipping containers, trucks, and other vehicles.”

    They also take advantage of railroads. Even though we have no stops in the county now, they can still make their way here through that means.

    And they are masters of disguise

    “Their egg clusters look like mud smears,” Huffman says. And apparently that is how they made their way to Indiana. A man, she says, worked on cars between Pennsylvania and Indiana, bringing them to his place in the Midwestern state. The bugs had attached themselves to the cars that were brought from Pennsylvania, unleashing them to this region.

    Huffman says they are not harmful to people, but they are harmful to “fruiting things.” They attack horticulture and landscaping.

    According to information from Penn State University, while the pests are harmful, they rarely kill what they infest; regardless, they need to be handled to prevent damage.

    While we have no confirmation in the county at this time, Huffman is asking everyone to prepare to take action. 

    “Before you squish, take a picture,” she advises. You can then send the picture to the local extension office or to the state office at reportapest@uky.edu.