Some of you may have encountered jumping bugs in our neighborhood — the Spotted Lanternfly — an evasive species that has found their way to Columbus. Current guidance from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is to stomp on these bugs immediately, as they pose several environmental harms.
If you see them in our neighborhood, please report them on the Plant Pest Reporting tool.
The Spotted Lanternfly was first identified in Ohio in 2020, and has since continued to be found in other areas across the state. It’s is a non–native, invasive pest that feeds on tree of heaven, Ailanthus altissima, but is also known to be a pest of grapes, hops, stone fruits, and other agriculturally important plants.
