Sign up for the iWire to get breaking news, event info and the species spotlight.

Invaders of Texas Login


Forgotten password?

Photographer: Lawrence Barringer
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org
Cover photo: Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org

Spotted Lanternfly

Lycorma delicatula

Origin: China, India, and Vietnam

Impact: The spotted lanternfly has long, tubular piercing-sucking mouthparts that are adapted to feeding from plant stems. It sucks on phloem sap. It feeds on over 70 known host plants, including economically important plants, particularly common grape vine (Vitis vinifera), but ranging from apples, other grapes, birch, cherry, lilac, maple, poplar, stone fruits, causing important crop damage. It appears to prefer the non-native invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima).

Identification:
Adults are fairly cryptic as long as their wings are folded. They have light brown forewings dotted with black spots, and the base color darkens along the tips of the wing. The hindwings are brightly colored, red with black spots, with a white band separating the red from the black tips of their hindwings. Females are slightly larger than males, with a body length of 20 to 27 mm vs. 17 to 22 mm (about 0.75-1.1 in.). All four instars (nymphal growth stages) are mostly black with white spots, but the fourth and final instar also has red patches on the body.

View More Pictures

Learn More: Species Profile.

Report Form

If you have spotted Lycorma delicatula (Spotted Lanternfly), use this report form to send an email to the appropriate authorities.

Your Name

Email

Phone Number

Street Address

City

County

Zip Code

Location
Latitude: Longitude: in decimal degrees

Did You Collect a Specimen?
Yes or No.

Host Plant
If applicable, what is the host plant?

Comments: Describe the species, impact, infestation or generally what you are seeing.

Please upload a photo of the specimen or the site where the specimen was seen. NOTE: The photo file must be no larger than 2 MB in size.


NOTE: We are expriencing an issue in which after you click on the "Submit Report Now" button below, you will be directed to a blank page. HOWEVER, don't worry, your report will be submitted! (You may simply close the blank page.)

Share