Learn how to identify the spotted lanternfly and stay vigilant for it. SLF is also a threat to recreation and tourism in our state. It could have a devastating effect on grapes and fruit and nut trees. This invasive pest has the potential to damage our forests and food supply by feeding on trees and crops. SLF egg masses can hitch a ride on a variety of outdoor materials, sneaking into Missouri from infested locations on anything from firewood to shipping containers. Introduced to the United States from overseas in 2014, the spotted lanternfly finds its way to new areas primarily by hitchhiking with humans. Learn more about planthoppers as a group, including our many native species, on their group page. Like most other planthoppers, spotted lanternflies usually hop as opposed to flying.
After the female deposits the eggs, she covers most of them with a grayish, waxy coating that resembles mud. SLF eggs are brown and are laid in rows on hard, smooth surfaces, including trees, firewood, landscape materials, outdoor furniture, vehicles, and more. In the final stage of development before becoming adults, nymphs are red and black with white spots. Nymphs (immature stages) lack wings and are black with white spots. The abdomen of an adult SLF is yellow with horizontal black bars down the middle of the back. When the insect is at rest, however, the bright red of the hindwings may peek out from between the forewings, if parted, or the color may partially show through the forewings, making the forewings appear pinkish. The vibrantly colored hindwings are usually only visible when the wings are extended, as in flight.
SPOTTED LANTERN FLY EGGS PATCH
The hindwings are divided into three sections: a white patch in the middle black tips and about half of the trailing section pinkish red with black spots. Adults are about 1 inch long and have large, visually striking wings: The forewings (first pair of wings) are grayish tan with black spots, with the outer tip darkened by a patch of fine, short black lines. The spotted lanternfly (SLF) is a large planthopper native to Asia.
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