Spotted lanternfly: Colorful, invasive insect detected in Tennessee again

Little polka-dotted bugs are causing some concern in Tennessee. 

The spotted lanternfly — an insect native to Southeastern Asia that attracts attention with its red, tan and black markings — was seen in Davidson County again this year after it was first found in Tennessee in 2023. The invasive insect has been spreading across the globe while hitchhiking on flat surfaces, like trucks and shipping cargo. 

In the U.S., the spotted lanternfly was first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014. Tennessee was the 16th state to confirm its presence last year.

The spotted lanternfly poses the greatest threat to grape production, consuming both wild and cultivated grapevines, according to Cornell University. The spotted lanternfly seems to prefer the Ailanthus tree, also called the “tree of heaven,” which is also an invasive species.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s official guidance for folks who see spotted lanternflys is to take photos, fill out a form and then kill the creature via stomping and kill its eggs by “smashing or dousing with rubbing alcohol” — though there is some debate on the effectiveness and morality of killing these insects by hand.

“This non-native insect is harmful to a range of crops and natural resources in our state. Wood products businesses and fruit growers could be especially vulnerable, and we want your help in watching out for this pest and eliminating any you find,” Commissioner Charlie Hatcher said in a press release last year.

Some agencies recommend the use of insecticides to control the spread of the lanterfly. However, insecticides are a type of pesticide — usually synthetic substances derived from fossil fuels — that cause climate change and pollute air, soil and water. Pesticides are largely considered an effective and cheap way to ensure agricultural yields, but the chemicals, which are designed to kill organisms, also harm humans, other animals and overall ecosystems.

The Pesticide Action Network released a report last year suggesting that governments need to reduce pesticide use and find other agro-ecological solutions for animals considered “pests.”