Spotted Lanternfly Surge Starting In MD: What To Expect, How To Spot Them

Spotted lanternflies are emerging in huge numbers in Maryland in 2025, and residents should prepare for a boom in the pest's population in the coming years, according to experts and some county officials.

The spotted lanternfly, an invasive species native to eastern Asia, made its way to the United States in 2014 via a stone shipment sent to Berks County, Pennsylvania. Four years later, it was first found in Maryland in Cecil County and has since spread to 20 of the state's 23 counties, as well as Baltimore City, according to the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

Adult lanternflies have polka-dotted forewings and bold red underwings, giving them a distinctive appearance. Although it has the allure of a butterfly, the insect’s looks are deceiving.

Voracious eaters, spotted lanternflies feed on about 100 plant and tree species, including economically important crops such as grapevines, apple orchards, hops ornamental landscape plants, along with multiple tree species.

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In a statement released Monday, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation said residents should prepare for a boom in the spotted lanternfly population over the next three to five years.

In fact, MCDOT officials said some parts of the county may see population levels similar to the Cicada Brood X emergence in 2021, when billions of them rose from the earth after a 17-year wait.

"The further northeast you are, the worse it’s going to be,” said MCDOT Division of Highway Services arborist and entomologist Ashley Dykes. "In certain parts of the county, particularly areas such as Damascus and Brookeville, while it’s not quite on par with peak cicada season numbers yet, we are getting there."

Entomology professor and University of Maryland Extension specialist Paula Shrewsbury also said Marylanders should "buckle up" for a boom in the spotted lanternfly population.

"Insect populations are patchy," Shrewsbury said. "The first year, you see one or two, then the next year, five or 10, and then the next year, you see hundreds or thousands. That’s the pattern."

She continued, "Here in College Park and many parts of Maryland, we’re at the start of the boom, which will last for three to five years before the population dips and levels out."

Should Marylanders Worry About The Spotted Lanternfly?

The short answer is no, but they can leave a mess and be viewed as a nuisance.

“They do not sting or bite,” Dykes said. “And they contain no known toxins, so they should not harm any pets that try to eat them.”

The life cycle of the spotted lanternfly starts with egg masses laid in the fall. Nymphs hatch in May and grow from black with white spots to red with black spots. In July, they start to molt and reach their final winged adult form, which will live until the first hard frost.

While feeding on plants, spotted lanternflies secrete a liquid known as honeydew. The liquid can develop an intense, rotten odor as it ferments and causes black, sooty mold, which can cover leaves and inhibit photosynthesis. Sooty mold can also cover manmade structures and attract stinging insects like bees, yellow jackets, wasps and hornets.

Regardless, your trees should be fine, Shrewsbury said.

The nymphs may gather on vegetables, roses or other small plants, but the adults feed mainly on woody trees. Most trees are hardy enough to bounce back, Shrewsbury said.

In her lab, Shrewsbury has been studying how to use a commercially available bio-insecticide called Beauvaria bassiana for effective control. She’s found that it kills the nymphs and adults, and once she determines when, where and how to apply it for the best results, she’ll disseminate recommendations to farmers across the state.

But rather than focus on getting rid of the pest, some entomologists say the focus should be on eliminating their main food source, which is another invasive species called the tree of heaven.

"It's also known as the stink tree for its strong odor," Michael Raupp, professor emeritus of entomology at the University of Maryland, told NPR. "The tree was brought to the United States from China in the late 1700s, and it mainly grows in humid climates."

Predators are also emerging that may take care of the pest.

“We’ve seen lots of things eating them,” Shrewsbury said, including wheel bugs, spiders and praying mantises, as well as many types of birds. One vineyard is even using ducks.

“Many generalist predators are opportunistic, so if it’s easy pickings, they just eat and eat and eat," Shrewsbury said.

While some experts say to simply stomp on the lanternflies, others say that won't do much good.

“Everybody can squish spotted lanternflies as much as they want, but they’re still not going to reduce the populations," Shrewsbury said.

Reporting Spotted Lanternflies In Maryland

In Maryland, the Department of Agriculture issued a quarantine for 20 counties where the spotted lanternfly is present. The purpose of the quarantine is to stop the spread of the pest to other counties.

"All other life stages of this insect, from nymphs to adults, can fly, hop, or drop into a vehicle, meaning that vehicles and equipment can easily and quickly help it spread," state officials said. "Therefore, a quarantine of an area found to be infested with the spotted lanternfly means that any material or object that could harbor the pest cannot be moved without taking precautions to prevent its spread."

Due to the quarantine, items including landscaping or construction waste, packing materials, plants, and outdoor items all require a permit to move within or from the quarantine area.

According to state officials, Marylanders should use this checklist for homeowners to determine if they have spotted lanternflies on their property.

"Thoroughly inspect all items presented on this list for any type of spotted lanternfly life stage and destroy all (lanternflies) that you discover," officials said. "This will help slow the spread of the insects to new areas."

Spotted lanternfly sightings should also be reported to the state through this online form.

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