Spotted Lanternfly Experts Share What Research Has Uncovered About The Pest

Since the spotted lanternfly’s unwelcome arrival in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014, researchers have been working tirelessly to learn more about the invasive pest, now confirmed in 45 Pennsylvania counties and reported in surrounding states.

Native to Asia, the spotted lanternfly was a new species in the U.S., so there was little known about it at the time, said Julie Urban, research associate professor of entomology at Penn State.

“It’s a complex insect, and it takes a village to fully understand what we are seeing and how this can inform management,” said Urban about the pes...