Photo Provided Spotted Lanternfly Adult Photo Credit: Amy Stone, OSU Extension - Lucas County

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — An invasive insect known as the spotted lanternfly has been migrating across eastern Ohio. Dan Lima, Ohio State University Extension Agriculture and Natural Resource Educator for Belmont County, said that the insect has been seen in Jefferson County, Cleveland and the Cincinnati area, and he suspects that spotted lanternflies could spread to Belmont County.

Lima said that he has been scouting for signs of spotted lanternflies in Belmont County and has not found any so far.

“We suspect it’s around,” he said.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the spotted lanternfly is an invasive planthopper native to China and first discovered in the United States in 2014 in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Lima explained that the spotted lanternflies feed off of plants and produce a “black, sooty mold” from a combination of sap and a sugary liquid the insect excretes. The mold attracts hornets and inhibits the growth of nearby trees.

Lima said that plants that have large amounts of sap or sugar attract the lanternflies, meaning that the insects could harm local orchards and vineyards. He said that grapes, apples, peaches and other sugary fruits are the most at risk.

“They’re such a pest. We’re really trying to keep it at bay,” Lima said.

Lima said that the insects are currently in their nymph stage but will soon become adults.

“When they’re adults, that’s when you’ll see the blue-purple insect, and that’s when they do the most damage,” he said.

Lima said that spotted lanternflies will lay eggs before winter.

“The eggs are like putty and will stick to any hard surface. That’s why we ask people to check their vehicles for eggs before they leave an infested area,” he said.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the management of spotted lanternflies is focused on preventing their spread on vehicles or other objects through quarantines, trapping of nymphs, removal of host plants and chemical control.

According to the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s website, the ODA is working on updating an Ohio-specific map of spotted lanternfly spottings with the goal of reducing the spread. Currently, Jefferson County, Cuyahoga County and Lorain County are under quarantine. Additional counties where spotted lanternflies have been confirmed will be added when the updated map is released in August during Tree Check Month.

Lima said that people should not hesitate or report any spotted lanternfly sightings. “Report it, and hopefully we can get it destroyed. We are trying to slow it down the best we can,” he said. Lima said that people can make reports to the OSU Extension office by calling 740-695-1455 or by contacting the ODA. Reports can be made using the online reporting system on the ODA website at agri.ohio.gov.

The ODA recommends that anyone who suspects that they have seen a spotted lanternfly should try to capture the insect or take a clear photo of the insect and get the address or GPS coordinates of its location.