Invasive Spotted Lanternfly Tracking 'Critical' In GA

The public's assistance is essential to tracking an invasive insect that is nesting in Georgia, according to the University of Georgia.

Researchers on Tuesday said tracking the spotted lanternfly, which has been observed in Fulton County, is "critical." As of Tuesday, no other counties have reported sightings of the spotted lanternfly.

Georgians first detected the spotted lanternfly in October 2024, the Georgia Department of Agriculture previously said.

The "invasive planthopper" puts Georgia's crops seriously at risk, officials said. It poses no danger to humans; however, it can be a threat to crops, officials said

Spotted lanternflies eat plants, grapes, hops, stone fruits and hardwood trees. Officials said the feeding diminishes the strength of the plants and causes a sticky, sugary fluid that promotes mold growth — which can harm crops.

These insects lay eggs from September-November and can survive throughout winter until their spring hatching during warmer temperatures, officials said.

RELATED: Invasive Spotted Lanternfly Arrives In GA

First sightings of the spotted lanternfly nymphs, in their immature growth stage, occurred in April in Georgia, according to UGA. Then, from May through mid-June, the older nymphs were seen in their red patches, as well as adults.

With adult season in full swing, UGA said people are requested to stand watch this summer.

"Georgia is the southernmost state with confirmed lanternfly populations. And the pest hasn’t been here long enough for scientists to fully understand its lifecycle in this region. That makes public reports especially valuable for tracking seasonal patterns and range expansion ... The insects congregate in groups, especially lower down on plant surfaces. They are not strong flyers. Adult lanternflies may be seen hopping or flying clumsily around," UGA said in a news release.

What To Do, Pest's Spread

Nationally, the spotted lanternfly was first encountered in 2014 in Pennsylvania and has since spread to 19 states, according to UGA.

If there are any sightings of spotted lanternflies, agriculture officials asked residents to do the following: take a clear picture of the pest, kill it and report the sightings online via the Georgia Invasive Species Task Force.

People who see spotted lantern flies in either the nymph or adult stage should destroy them, some scientists say. Some states, including New York, are telling residents to step on and squish the pests.

An adult female can lay a couple of egg masses, each containing 30 to 60 eggs, allowing populations to grow exponentially, so it’s important to kill them before they can establish another generation of the pests.

The spotted lanternfly spreads much more quickly than other invasive insects. It only took a decade for it to spread to 17 states.

The egg masses, which can look like cakes of mud, are easily transported on trailers, RVs, semi-trucks, containers, trains and other forms of shipping and transportation.

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