Information Guide
Invasive Species Field Guide
Four species do most of the damage in the Northeast and Midwest. Learn what each one looks like, the season it shows up, and the one action that makes the biggest difference — then report what you find so the whole community can see the spread.
Spotted Lanternfly · Lycorma delicatula
Spotted Lanternfly
High threatPlanthopper that feeds on sap of grapes, fruit trees, maples, and walnuts. Weakens plants and excretes honeydew that grows sooty mold.
How to identify it
- •Wings are gray with black spots; hindwings flash bright red with black spots and white bands.
- •About 1 inch long; rests with wings tented over the body.
- •Nymphs (spring–summer) are black with white spots, then red with white spots.
What to do about it
- •Squash adults and nymphs on sight — they jump but can be caught.
- •Remove and report Tree of Heaven, the preferred host.
- •Scrape egg masses from surfaces (see the Scrape Tool Guide).
How to stop the spread
- •Check vehicles and outdoor gear before traveling from a quarantine zone.
- •Don't move firewood — buy it where you burn it.
- •Inspect outdoor furniture, grills, and stone for egg masses in fall/winter.
Where it is: Found across the mid-Atlantic and spreading through the Midwest, Northeast, and parts of the South. Moves via egg masses on vehicles, firewood, and outdoor furniture.
Spotted Lanternfly Egg Masses · Lycorma delicatula (eggs)
Spotted Lanternfly Egg Masses
High threatOverwintering egg masses laid in fall. Each mass holds 30–50 eggs and hatches in spring. Destroying them is the single most effective way to slow the spread.
How to identify it
- •Grayish-brown, mud-like smear roughly 1–2 inches long on tree bark, stone, fences, or outdoor furniture.
- •Looks like a smear of putty or chewing gum; may crack and weather over winter.
- •Found on smooth surfaces: trunks, lawn furniture, vehicles, firewood, rocks.
What to do about it
- •Scrape the mass into a sealed bag with alcohol or hand sanitizer, then dispose.
- •Follow the illustrated Scrape Tool Guide for safe removal.
- •Report every mass you destroy so eradication effort can be tracked.
How to stop the spread
- •Inspect your property each fall through winter.
- •Check vehicles, trailers, and campers stored outdoors.
- •Scrape before spring hatch — once hatched, switch to nymph/adult reporting.
Where it is: Egg masses are the main way the insect travels long distances — laid on vehicles and goods shipped out of quarantine zones.
Tree of Heaven · Ailanthus altissima
Tree of Heaven
Medium threatInvasive tree and the preferred host of the Spotted Lanternfly. Grows fast, crowds out native trees, and helps lanternflies thrive.
How to identify it
- •Large compound leaves with 11–41 leaflets, each with a notched base and a small lobe near the tip.
- •Bark is smooth and gray, resembling cantaloupe skin on mature trees.
- •Crushed leaves and broken twigs give off a strong, rancid-peanut odor.
What to do about it
- •Pull seedlings by hand when small; remove the entire root.
- •For mature trees, cut and immediately treat the stump with herbicide — cutting alone triggers more suckers.
- •Target female (seed-producing) trees first.
How to stop the spread
- •Don't plant or move Tree of Heaven.
- •Monitor cut stumps for regrowth and re-treat.
- •Report clusters so land managers can prioritize removal.
Where it is: Widespread across the U.S. Spreads by seed and aggressive root suckers, forming dense thickets that suppress native forest.
Emerald Ash Borer · Agrilus planipennis
Emerald Ash Borer
High threatMetallic-green beetle whose larvae tunnel under ash bark, cutting off water and nutrients. Has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees across the U.S.
How to identify it
- •Bright, metallic emerald-green body, about 1/2 inch long.
- •D-shaped exit holes in ash bark where adults emerged.
- •Bark splits and winding S-shaped larval galleries underneath.
What to do about it
- •Report suspected infestations to your state agriculture department.
- •Treat high-value ash trees with a professional systemic insecticide.
- •Don't move ash firewood — chip or burn it locally.
How to stop the spread
- •Buy and burn firewood locally — never transport it.
- •Watch ash trees for crown dieback and woodpecker activity.
- •Report any ash tree showing D-shaped holes or bark splits.
Where it is: Across most of the eastern and central U.S. and moving west. Spreads mainly via infested firewood.
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