How to Spot and Report Spotted Lanternfly in Missouri

By Blake Jackson

Missouri residents are being urged to remain vigilant for the spotted lanternfly (SLF), an invasive insect that poses a significant threat to the state’s $4.2 billion wine and grape industry. SLF can harm grapes, other fruits, ornamentals, and urban landscapes.

First detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, SLF has now been reported in 19 states, including several that border Missouri, according to University of Missouri Extension and Lincoln University urban entomologist Emily Althoff. Since 2022, SLF has been intercepted in Missouri three times.

Althoff cautions that the pest can appear on shipping materials from now through December. She encourages those in agriculture and transportation sectors to inspect vehicles and equipment, as SLF often travels on metal objects such as trains and trucks.

“It is important to know what SLF looks like in various stages,” Althoff says, noting that it may appear as egg masses, nymphs, or adults. She adds that live SLF are easiest to spot at dusk or night, when they move along tree trunks. The insect’s preferred host is tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima).

Past interceptions in Missouri include 15 dead nymphs on trucks in St. Joseph in 2022, dead adults in Hazelwood the same year, and dead adults in Union in 2025.

Althoff believes these interceptions reflect growing public awareness but stresses ongoing vigilance. Dean Volenberg, head of the MU Grape and Wine Institute, adds: “Public awareness will be critical in detecting and controlling this invasive pest to prevent economic and ecologic losses. If allowed to spread, SLF could have a devastating effect on Missouri fruits, including grapes, ornamental and forest industries.”

Suspected sightings should be reported to the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) at plantpest@mda.mo.gov. Include a clear photo, the date, and location. Collect the specimen in a jar for potential MDA inspection, Althoff advises.

Photo Credit: spotted-lanternfly-pennsylvania-department-of-agriculture