CAES Announces the Finding of Spotted Lanternfly in Farmington, Connecticut

New Haven, CT – The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) in cooperation with USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) announce that a single dead adult spotted lanternfly,Lycoma delicatula, has been detected and confirmed from a private residence in Farmington, CT. The insect appears to have been a hitch hiker that was likely transported on a vehicle from Pennsylvania. No other spotted lanternflies were found upon visiting the property. However, some additional survey in the area is planned to confirm that no other spotted lanternflies are present.

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive sap-feeding planthopper that was discovered in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014. It is native to China, India, and Vietnam. It attacks many hosts and has the potential to severely impact Connecticut’s farm crops, particularly apples, grapes, and hops, as well as a number of tree species. In the fall, adults can often be found congregating on tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus), willows and other trees. They will lay egg masses on trees and almost any nearby surface. Early detection is important for the protection of Connecticut businesses and agriculture. The public is urged to report potential sightings of this invasive pest to CAES. Submission of a photograph with any report is encouraged.