An image of the spotted lanternfly. Photo provided by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

News Release

INDIANAPOLIS — The spotted lanternfly has been confirmed in the northern Indiana counties of Elkhart, Porter and St. Joseph next to railroad lines through Chesterton, Elkhart and Mishawaka.

This is the third region of the state in which this invasive pest has been found, joining the 2021 find in Switzerland County in the southeastern part of the state and the 2022 find in Huntington County in the northeast. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources continues to survey to determine the extent of the currently infested areas.

A plant hopper that originated in Asia, spotted lanternfly is of concern across most of the United States because of its adverse effect on fruit orchards, nurseries and the logging and wine industries. It was first discovered in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014 and is often unknowingly spread by humans. It’s now found in many Eastern states as well as along the rail lines in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Toledo, in Ohio, and in Chicago.

The adult insects have piercing, sucking mouth parts and weaken plants by feeding on them, making it difficult for the plant to survive the winter. Congregating spotted lanternfly insects produce large quantities of honeydew that over time become infested with sooty mold that attracts other pests in the area, further threatening native plants.

More information can be found at on.IN.gov/spotted-lanternfly.

Anyone who spots this insect or signs of it should contact DNR Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology by calling 866-NO EXOTIC (866-663-9684) or emailing [email protected].

To view more DNR news releases, see dnr.IN.gov.