Ohioans are being asked to join the fight against a destructive new invader: the spotted lanternfly. The colorful but damaging insect, first confirmed in the state just a few years ago, has now spread across at least 18 counties and is threatening crops, trees, and backyards.
The lanternfly, which originates from Asia, doesn’t bite or sting, but its appetite for plant sap poses a serious risk to vineyards, orchards, and hardwood forests. As the insects feed, they leave behind a sticky residue called honeydew that attracts other pests and causes mold to spread across leaves and bark.
“This insect is more than a nuisance—it’s a danger to agriculture and the environment,” officials with the Ohio Department of Agriculture have warned. Quarantines are already in place in several counties to try to slow its movement, but experts say stopping the pest will require the help of ordinary citizens.
The problem is how easily the lanternfly moves. Egg masses, which look like smudges of mud or putty, can cling to firewood, vehicles, outdoor furniture, or even stone. A load of lumber, a stack of yard tools, or a family car headed down the interstate can transport the insect far beyond its current range.
That’s why officials are urging people to be on the lookout. Residents are asked to scrape and destroy egg masses when they find them, kill nymphs and adults on sight, and carefully inspect belongings before traveling between counties. Removing tree-of-heaven, a favored host plant that’s invasive in its own right, can also reduce local populations.
The fight is taking creative turns as well. In Cleveland, specially trained dogs are being used to sniff out egg masses in parks, preventing thousands of insects from hatching. Meanwhile, researchers are studying natural predators that could one day help keep the lanternfly in check.
For now, the state is relying on public vigilance. “Every Ohioan can play a role in protecting our vineyards, orchards, and forests,” agriculture officials say. The advice is simple: if you see one, kill it, and if you find egg masses in new places, report them.
The spotted lanternfly’s spread may be inevitable, but how quickly it reaches the rest of Ohio—and how much damage it does along the way—may depend on what ordinary people choose to do in their own backyards.
