Source:  NCSU COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

If You Think You Have Found Spotted Lanternfly in NC:
• Please take a photo and upload it to notify experts at the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
• When submitting a photo please include the location of the sighting, the date, and your contact information.
• Clear, close-up, focused images are the easiest to ID! If possible, add a coin, paper clip, or other small objects to the photo to indicate the size of the insect.
First found in eastern Pennsylvania in 2014, the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive insect pest that is now established in New York, Delaware, and Virginia and it has recently been found in North Carolina. Early detection is critical in stopping its spread and minimizing the devastating effect it could have on NC landscapes and agricultural crops, particularly grapevines, fruit trees, and a wide range of hardwood trees. The messy honeydew they secrete also causes problems by attracting ants, wasps, and black sooty mold to neighborhoods and businesses, affecting property values, tourism, and human health.

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