Can You Spot the Spotted Lantern Fly?

A spotted lanternfly sitting on a purple sandcherry. [Magi Kern/Unsplash]

Chris Lisinski | SHNS

As you head outside to enjoy the last rays of summer sunshine, keep an eye out for the spotted lanternfly.

Officials have confirmed the presence of the invasive insect in more than 50 Massachusetts communities, and they expect an uptick in activity in the weeks ahead, the state Department of Agricultural Resources announced Wednesday.

Spotted lanternflies pose no threat to people or to pets, but they could impact agriculture by feeding on the sap of more than 100 different kinds of plants and can kill grapevines or small tree saplings, according to MDAR. That could pose a risk especially to vineyards and farms, especially those that allow visitors to pick their own fruit.

"The most noticeable impact is the sticky residue known as honeydew that they produce while feeding, which can be an inconvenience for outdoor activities including agritourism," the department wrote in a press release.

The insects have been spotted -- no pun intended -- in dozens of communities across nine different counties, especially near Worcester, Springfield, Boston and Attleboro. Officials said if anyone finds a spotted lanternfly, they should first check an official online map to see if it has already been reported in that community.

If not, the fly-spotter should take a picture and fill out a reporting form.

"With populations of spotted lanternfly expanding, we expect that more residents will start to see SLF activity at home or where they work," MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle said. "Because MDAR has limited resources for management, the agency is focusing on slowing the spread of this pest in areas where agriculture is most at risk, as well as locations where there are businesses at risk of accidentally spreading SLF to new areas."