Local News

Here’s where the spotted lanternfly has been reported in Mass.

Infestations of the invasive pest have been found in 2024 in communities across the state.

October 9, 2024

2 minutes to read

As new infestations of the spotted lanternfly continue to be found in Massachusetts, officials are urging the public to learn how to identify the pest to help proactively detect the invasive species.

Millbury is the latest community in the state to report finding the insects, which feed on the sap of trees and other plants. Native to China, it was first found in the United States in Pennsylvania in September 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which has been warning the insect poses a risk of impacting the nation’s grape, orchard, and logging industries if it is allowed to spread.

Spotted lanternflies lay eggs on “almost any surface,” including cars, trailers, and patio furniture, which officials said allows them to be spread across long distances when people travel with infested materials.

The first infestation of the insect was found in 2021, according to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR).

Since then, the pest has been found in dozens of communities across the state, which has a map tracking the invasive insect.

According to the state’s map tracking the pest, the spotted lanternfly is present in the following areas, as of 2024: Lawrence, Andover, Lynn, Natick, Framingham, Marlborough, Southborough, Hopkinton, Upton, Northbridge, Grafton, Millbury, Norton, Attleboro, Seekonk, Wilbraham, Ludlow, Chicopee, and Longmeadow.

In past years, the insect has been found in Chelmsford, Fitchburg, Weston, Wellesley, Ashland, Shrewsbury, Worcester, Springfield, West Springfield, Agawam, and Holyoke.

“Being proactive in detecting and managing the spotted lanternfly is crucial for protecting our state’s economy and environment from invasive species,” Danielle Burney, a spokesperson for MDAR, said in a statement. “We encourage everyone to learn how to identify the spotted lanternfly and take proactive steps to slow its spread.”

Identifying the insect as well as its egg masses, which resemble mud on flat surfaces and can survive the winter until they hatch in May, is also crucial, according to the state.

Anyone who finds a spotted lanternfly or its eggs is being urged to report the sighting through the state’s map. Officials will then conduct a review of the report, including analyzing any photos that were submitted. When an infestation is found, the state conducts a survey to determine its extent and may set up traps for the insect, according to MDAR.