A bipartisan Senate proposal could secure federal support for Pennsylvania's efforts to combat the destructive spotted lanternfly. Lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at accelerating research into this invasive insect, which has already caused damage to farms, trees, and local economies.
What's happening?
According to USA Today, Pennsylvania Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, and New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced a bill called the Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act.
If this legislation is passed, research on the spotted lanternfly will become a top priority for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
The bill was passed amid the ongoing spread of this pest throughout Pennsylvania. USA Today reported that the insect was first discovered in Berks County in 2014 and has since spread to 51 of the state's 67 counties.
In 2025, Allegheny County recorded the highest number of spotted lanternfly sightings in the state—211 out of 765 reported statewide. The peak number of statewide reports was 38,947 in 2023, although the number of sightings has declined since then.
Why is this important?
Spotted lanternflies feed on plant sap and attack a wide range of crops and trees of economic value, including grapes, apples, peaches, hops, maple, black walnut, birch, and willow, USA Today reports.
They pose a direct threat to farmers, food production, and jobs related to agriculture and forestry. According to USA Today, economists from Pennsylvania State University estimate that if the pest infestation is not controlled, it could cost Pennsylvania's economy at least $324 million annually.
Additionally, these insects leave behind a sugary residue that can lead to the formation of sooty mold, further adding stress to already damaged plants.
What can I do?
The bill aims to focus more attention and research at the federal level on combating this pest before it causes more widespread damage.
USA Today reported that the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture encourages anyone who spots lanternflies to report them through the department's online portal or by calling 1-888-4BADFLY. The department also recommends eliminating these insects to prevent their replication.
Adult spotted lanternflies are approximately 1.5 inches wide at rest, with their forewings and hindwings covered in gray spots of red, black, and white. Nymphs are black with white spots early in their development, developing red spots as they mature.
«"Spotted lanternflies have devastated crops critical to Pennsylvania's economy, including grapes, apples, peaches, hops and more," Fetterman said, according to USA Today.
«"Investing in research to combat spotted lanternflies will help protect our farms, strengthen the agricultural economy, and better manage this invasive species," McCormick added.
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