Fauna
Insect

Spotted Lanternfly

Lycorma delicatula

Also known as SLF

Spotted lanternflies are striking planthoppers easily identified by their grey-spotted forewings and brilliant scarlet hindwings revealed in flight. Adults and nymphs feed in large aggregations, using piercing-sucking mouthparts to drain sap from dozens of woody plant species while excreting sticky honeydew. This heavy feeding weakens trees, fosters destructive black sooty mold, and threatens vineyards and hardwood timber where introduced.

InvasiveColorfulForest Pest
Spotted Lanternfly reference1 / 7
(c) WanderingMogwai, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
—observations
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyTree of heaven sap, Grapevine sap, Black walnut sap
Predators
  • Parasitic wasps
  • Praying mantises
  • Songbirds
ThreatsPest eradication efforts, parasitic wasps, fungal pathogens, and native birds
HabitatsHardwood forests, vineyards, orchards, urban parks, and industrial corridors
Life span1 year
Classification
  1. OrderHemiptera
  2. FamilyFulgoridae
  3. GenusLycorma
  4. SpeciesLycorma delicatula
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Stomp on sight: In introduced invasive ranges, stomp on adults and nymphs to limit local damage.
  • Inspect vehicles: Check wheel wells, grills, and gear for mud-like egg masses before traveling.
  • Scrape egg masses: Scrape grey egg clutches into rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer during winter.
Related species
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