The spotted lanternfly is in Georgia, and officials want people to keep an eye out for it. The invasive insect could cause the state’s agricultural industry some trouble. 

The Georgia Department of Agriculture, in a Nov. 14 statement, said the lanternfly was detected Oct. 22 in Fulton County, the county that includes Atlanta. Nov. 14, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the sample. 

“The spotted lanternfly, an invasive pest that poses a serious threat to our state’s No.1 industry, has been detected for the first time in Georgia,” said Tyler Harper, Georgia’s commissioner of agriculture, in the GDA statement. “We urge anyone who sees the spotted lanternfly in their area to document it, report it and kill it. Controlling the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly is our best strategy for safeguarding Georgia’s agriculture industry, and we are asking for the public’s help in this effort.” 

The lanternfly is native to China. The first confirmed U.S. appearance of the planthopper was in Pennsylvania a decade ago. It has since spread to 17 states, including Georgia’s neighbors Tennessee and North Carolina. Officials said it was a matter of when, not if, the insect would arrive in Georgia. 

The adult insect sports a pinkish, black-pokey-dotted look when its wings are folded. When it spreads those wings, though, it reveals a dramatic black, white and red underwing. The nymphs are red with black and white dots.  

The lanternfly doesn’t pose a direct threat to people. It feeds on plants, including grapes, hops, stone fruits and hardwood trees, according to the GDA statement. The feeding weakens plants and produces a sticky fluid called honeydew that can attract other insects and lead to a sooty mold growth, further hindering the plants. The sapsucker prefers the Tree of Heaven but can significantly impact many other species. 

According to a Penn State press release dated Oct. 2022, in Pennsylvania large infestations can cause economic damage to cultivated grapevines. Starting in 2017, some Pennsylvania grape growers reported severe damage to their vineyards by heavy infestations of adult spotted lanternflies, or more than 100 insects per vine, across multiple seasons. Damage varied from reduced yields, up to 90% in some instances, and led to vine decline and plant death. 

Adult lanternflies die with the first hard frost. But their eggs can take the winter. They lay eggs from September to November, and those eggs hatch in spring. 

The GDA wants people to look out for the lanternfly. If you see a suspect, the department wants you to take a clear picture of the insect, kill it and report the sighting online.