The Spotted Lanternfly is native to parts of China, Vietnam, and India. The invasive pest arrived in the United States in Pennsylvania in 2014. The latest information indicates the Spotted Lanternfly to be present in 19 states and Washington, D.C.
In Tennessee, the Spotted Lanternfly was first confirmed in Davidson and Wilson counties in 2023. The pest has continued to invade other counties since then. Citizen scouting is important to monitor the activity in the state.
The Spotted Lanternfly has a strong preference for the invasive tree-of-heaven, grapevines, hops, stone fruit trees, and hardwoods. The pest is a relatively poor flier and is mostly assisted by “accidental transport”, hitchhiking from infested areas.
TN Dept. of Ag. Link: