Spotted Lanternfly in Virginia
A potentially very serious pest of grapes, peaches, hops, and a variety of other crops, the spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, was detected in Frederick County, Virginia, on Jan. 10, 2018.
It is important to look for it and report any finds.
The spotted lanternfly has also been reported on a range of ornamentals around the home and in the landscape; in high numbers, the insect can become a nuisance pest to homeowners.

Early, immature stages of the spotted lanternfly are wingless and black and have white spots that develop to red patches.

Clockwise from top left: Adult showing hind wings, adult with folded wings, early black and white nymphs. full grown nymphs showing red, and egg masses.

SLF egg masses are 1-1.5" long and ½-¾" wide, shiny and grayish-brown in color when fresh. They weather to a flat gray-brown color with age.

Are you a Virginia Resident and you found a Spotted Lanternfly?
- If you are in Frederick, Clarke, or Warren Counties or in the City of Winchester and need information or to report a spotted lanternfly
- Report a suspect Spotted Lanternfly in Warren, Clark or Frederick Counties or the city of Winchester
- If you are in any other county or city in Virginia and want to report a possible Spotted Lanternfly, contact your local extension office, to find your local Extension office, go to:
- Find your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office
Identification
- Possible Spotted Lanternfly Egg Mass Look-alikes in Virginia
- Possible Spotted Lanternfly Immature Look-alikes in Virginia
- Possible Spotted Lanternfly Adult Look-alikes in Virginia
Biology
- Lifecycle Calendar
- Detailed fact sheet on the life cycle and control of the spotted lanternfly
- UDSA information on the Spotted Lanternfly
Control
- Best Management Practices for Spotted Lanternfly in Yards and Landscapes
- Residential Control for Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) in Virginia
- Best Management Practices for Spotted Lanternfly on Christmas Tree Farms
- Spotted Lanternfly in Virginia Vineyards: Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae)
Quarantine Information
- Virginia Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine
- Spotted Lanternfly Treatment Program Information
- What Virginians Need to Know About the Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine
- Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Spotted Lanternfly Resources
- Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine training https://register.ext.vt.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=1066947&selectedProgramAreaId=25575&selectedProgramStreamId
- Control and Utilization of the Tree-of-Heaven by the Virginia Department of Forestry. http://www.dof.virginia.gov/infopubs/Control-and-Utilization-of-Tree-of-Heaven-2019-03_pub.pdf
- Tree of Heaven identification
- Invasive Plant Species: Ailanthus (Ailanthus altissima)
County Resources for spotted lanternfly
- Contant your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office for more information https://ext.vt.edu/offices.html
- City of Winchester https://slf-winchestercity.hub.arcgis.com/
- Control de la Mosca Linterna con Manchas (Spotted Lanternfly- SLF) en Hogares de Virginia
- Mosca Linterna con Manchas (Spotted Lanternfly) en Viñedos de Virginia: Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae)
- Ciclo de Vida en Virginia de Spotted Lanternfly (Mosca de Alas Manchadas)
- Alerta de plagas, Mosca linterna con manchas (Lycorma delicatula)
USDA Alerta de Plagas: Mosca Linterna con Manchas