This is what adult spotted lanternflies look like in the late summer and early fall, with their wings open.New Jersey Department of Agriculture

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is asking for the public’s help to help spot an invasive bug that has the potential to seriously impact the state’s agriculture and natural resources.

The public is asked to be on the lookout for the spotted lanternfly. This insect has tell-tale spotted wings that have a burst of red when opened. While sporting some eye-catching colors, this bug is not a friend to the state. It’s invasive and it feeds on more than 70 different plants including grapes, apples, hops and hardwood trees, according to the MDARD.

“Our agricultural and natural resources are part of Michigan’s identity, and spotted lanternfly has the potential to forever change that landscape,” said Robert Miller, MDARD’s invasive species prevention and response specialist within the Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division. “With its ability to wreak havoc on grapes, apples, hops, stone fruits and more, this could be devastating to Michigan’s farmers and the state’s food and agriculture industry.”

According to MDARD, the spotted lanternfly causes direct damage to crops by sucking sap from the host plants while secreting large amounts of a sugar-rich, sticky liquid called ‘honeydew’. This substance and the resulting black sooty mold that it causes can kill plants. The honeydew often attracks other pests like yellow jackets, flies and ants, ultimately affecting outdoor recreation and complicating harvests.”

The spotted lanternfly was first detected in the United States in 2014 when it was found in southeastern Pennsylvania. The bug has been spreading rapidly across the northeastern states ever since its initial discovery. To date, infestations have been confirmed in Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

A live spotted lanternfly has not been detected in Michigan yet but MDARD and the United States Department of Agriculture have confirmed five cases of dead spotted lanternflies found in separate locations across the state. According to MDARD, the dead insects were found in packaging materials or objects shipped from states with known infestations.

Individuals and businesses receiving shipments from states known to have spotted lanternfly should be on the lookout for adults or egg masses on goods and packing materials, said the MDARD in a press release.

These lanternflies cannot fly long distances but they lay eggs on nearly any surface, including cars, trailers, firewood, outdoor furniture and more. MDARD is asking people to check their vehicles, firewood and outdoor equipement for unwanted lanternfly hitchikers after leaving an infested area.

“With the current rate of spread, it is possible spotted lanternfly could reach Michigan at any time,” Miller said. “Public awareness and reporting are essential to early detection, which provides the opportunity to contain an infestation before it becomes a widespread problem.”

Spotted lanternflies go through several phases, first resembling spotted beetles before morphing into their adult form.Photo courtesy of Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences

From late summer to the first hard frost, spotted lanternflies are in their adult stage and easiest to identify, according to MDARD. Adults are roughly one inch long and their folded wings are gray to brown with black spots. Open wings reveal a yellow and black abdomen and bright red hind wings with black spots transitioning to black and white bands at the edge. Spotted lanternfly juveniles are wingless and are black with white spots, developing red patches in their final juvenile stage.

Female spotted lanternfly lay egg masses in the fall, which resemble old chewing gum, with a gray, waxy, putty-like coating. Egg masses can survive winter temperatures to hatch in the spring. According to MDARD, the hatched eggs appear as brownish, seed-like deposits

If you find a spotted lanternfly egg mass, juvenile or adult, take one or more photos, make note of the date, time and location of the sighting, and report it to MDARD via email at MDA-Info@Michigan.gov or by calling 800-292-3939. If possible, collect a specimen in a container for verification.

Before traveling, check out the map of confirmed spotted lanternfly locations. For additional information on identifying or reporting, visit Michigan.gov/SpottedLanternfly.

Dead spotted lanternfly found in Michigan, public urged to look for invasive, crop-killing species

Invasive spotted lanternfly could threaten Michigan fruit, hops, tree crops

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