Invasive species Spotted Lanternfly detected in Wayne County

WAYNE COUNTY (WWJ) An invasive species, known as the spotted lanternfly, was detected in Wayne County; according the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).

This discovery, reported on Wednesday, followed an extensive surveillance of 20 Michigan counties. They have previously been detected in Oakland and Monroe counties.

Originally native to eastern Asia, the spotted latternfly (SPL) was first noticed in the U.S. in southeastern Pennsylvania. It has since spread to 17 eastern and midwestern states, according to MDARD.

"These surveying efforts are crucial in our effort to slow the spread of spotted lanternfly, which can be nuisance to Michiganders and is a source of concern for fruit growers,"  Steve Carlson, MDARD's Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division Director, said in the press release.

The SPL’s preferred food is the invasive tree-of-heaven. However; they also eat grapevines and a wide variety of trees including willow, red maple, black walnut, river birch and sumac. When feeding, SPL “produces a sticky liquid honeydew, that can collect on the ground or surrounding vegetation.”

This can lead to the growth of “sooty mold”— and can kill plants, MDARD said.

The SPL has two distinct life stages. Juveniles, or nymphs, resemble “small, wingless black to red beetles with white spots.” They’re usually spotted in the early summer, MDARD said.

In the meantime, adults “with gray to brown outer wings with black spots” show up in the later summer.

If you see a SPL; take at least one photo—label it with with the date, time and location of the sighting and report it online to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Eyes in The Field . MDARD also encourages you to "squish" the insect.

For additional information on identifying or reporting spotted lanternfly, visit Michigan.gov/SpottedLanternfly . You can also learn more at USDA's spotted lanternfly website found at USDA APHIS | Spotted Lanternfly .