Hopeful News About Spotted Lanternfly

Posted
Monday, May 18, 2026 - 09:05 AM
Spotted Lanternfly. Photo by Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
The spotted lanternfly is native to parts of China and Vietnam. Its host plant is the tree of heaven, which is also native to that region and is also considered invasive in Massachusetts. 
The egg mass of the spotted lanternfly. Photo by Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
The spotted lanternfly lays its egg mass on trees in the fall. MDAR recommends scraping off the egg mass as a preventive measure. 

For the past few years, SVT has asked our members to be on the lookout for the spotted lanternfly (SLF). This invasive insect, which damages host plants by feeding on their sap, has been spreading throughout the state and threatening the health of agricultural crops. While its primary host plant is another invasive--tree of heaven--the spotted lanternfly also targets grapevines, hops, and fruit trees. The recommended method for combatting the insect has been to scrape its egg masses and make sure they pop; this can be done anytime between autumn and hatching (May/April).

Now, we have some positive news to share. Researchers have discovered a potential biocontrol and are working with USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Biological Control Program on the next steps. The biocontrol involves the use of a parasite that feeds on the spotted lanternfly nymph soon after it hatches. The best case scenario is that the biocontrol will be approved for field testing in a year, worst case it will be several years.

SVT welcomes this news and is hopeful the researchers are able to offer some relief against the infestation.

Over the past winter, the staff at Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) estimates that they scraped around 37,000 egg masses, each with about 30 to 50 eggs. Nevertheless, a spotted lanternfly nymph was seen in Worcester County last week, which means more will likely appear over the next few weeks. 

MDAR continues to ask residents to photograph and report any sightings. If you find spotted lanternfly egg masses on your property, please report them to MDAR and then scrape and pop the egg masses. Or, if they have hatched, you can vacuum them up then leave them in a bag in the sun.