Spotted Lanternfly In Worcester: City Says Pest Is Here

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester officials over the weekend confirmed the presence of spotted lanternfly in the city, a potentially destructive pest that likes to feed on local crops, shrubs and trees.

The Worcester spotted lanternfly sighting is at least the eighth in the county. There are confirmed infestations in Shrewsbury and Fitchburg, plus sightings in Northborough, Milford, Sterling, Leominster and Sturbridge, according to the state Department of Agricultural Resources.

Worcester is asking residents who see the pretty but harmful lanternfly to report any sightings.

Although lantern flies usually do not kill plants, they suck out sugars that significantly weaken their hosts and leave behind massive amounts of honeydew — that is, excrement — which is typical of the true bug order Hemiptera.

The honeydew can attract other insects, including wasps, ants and bees, and also cause a sooty mold to grow on the plant, interfering with its ability to photosynthesize and create the energy it needs to survive and grow.

As nymphs, spotted lantern flies feed on a huge variety of plants, from herbs and fruit trees to grape vines. The adult insects typically lay egg masses between September and December on trees.

The spotted lanternfly, which is native to Asia, first appeared in the U.S. in Pennsylvania — but has spread far and wide. The pest has been sighted in most Northeastern states, and has spread as far west as Michigan and Kansas.