Invasive Spotted Lanternflies Become Widespread In VA: What To Know

More Virginians may notice a larger presence of a spotted insect around their communities. That's the invasive spotted lanternfly, which has spread to more areas of Virginia and is entering its adult phase over the summer.

That poses a threat to the Commonwealth's wine and agricultural industry, and leaders are urging residents to kill spotted lanternflies on sight this summer.

The spotted lanternfly, an invasive species native to eastern Asia, first showed up in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014. It only took a decade for the pest to spread to 18 states. The first sighting in Virginia was reported in Frederick County in 2018.

To slow the spread of the spotted lanternfly, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services had a quarantine in localities with widespread spotted laternflies. That quarantine was repealed on March 27, 2025, which means restrictions on travel between counties with spotted lanternflies in any life form have been lifted and permits are no longer issued.

Businesses in the affected counties previously had to get a permit from the state to move items to help prevent spotted lanternfly "hitchhikers" on vehicles.

According to the Virginia Tech Insect Identification Lab, spotted lanternfly populations are confirmed in dozens of Virginia localities, including Arlington County, Fairfax County, Alexandria City, Falls Church City, Fairfax City, Prince William County, Manassas City, Manassas Park City, Loudoun County, Stafford County, Spotsylvania County and Fredericksburg City.

Residents do not need to report spotted lanternfly sightings in the known infested locations.

Affected Virginia localities urge residents to kill spotted lanternflies they see since the invaders 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. The invasive tree-of-heaven is a preferred host to spotted lanternflies.

Another concern is that the insects emit a sticky substance, which can damage plants and deter predators. A recent study by Penn State University suggests some native insect predators could help naturally control the spotted lanternfly population.

Loudoun County residents have organized a Scrape for the Grape volunteer initiative. Volunteers remove spotted lanternfly egg masses before they are set to hatch at wineries and other hot spots for the invasive insects.

How To Identify Spotted Lanternflies

The appearance of the invasive insect will differ depending on the time of year.

Right now, the insects are transitioning from nymphs into adults. The nymphs are black with white spots and turn red as they develop, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Adults, which become common over the summer, are about 1-inch long and a half-inch wide. The insects have brown forewings, black spots on the front, scarlet hind wings with black spots on the front, and a speckled white and black bars at the rear.

Before the colder season, spotted lanternflies lay eggs on surfaces such as trees, bricks, stones, fences, grills, equipment and vehicles. The egg masses are 1 inch to 1 and a half-inches long and a half-inch to three-quarters of an inch wide. Each contains 30 to 50 eggs and are wide, shiny and gray-brown when fresh. Over time, they become a flat gray-brown.

Virginia Tech's Virginia Cooperative Extension local offices can provide assistance to residents on managing spotted lanternflies and how to identify the spotted lanternfly and the tree-of-heaven.

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