New York State officials are calling on residents across multiple regions to kill spotted lanternflies immediately upon sighting them, as the invasive pest continues to spread to new areas of the state. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has specifically asked people in Erie County and several other counties to help contain the insects before they cause further damage.
The spotted lanternfly was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and has since established itself in 14 states. New York is among them.
Where the Pest Has Spread in New York
The insect has now been confirmed across a wide swath of the state. Affected areas include all five New York City boroughs, Staten Island, Long Island, Ithaca, Binghamton, Newburgh, Highland, Middletown, Port Jervis, Sloatsburg, Orangeburg, and the Buffalo area, according to reporting by New Jersey 101.5.
Erie County officials amplified the state agency’s call on social media in early August 2026, directing residents to report sightings and destroy egg masses. That marks a continued westward push from the pest’s original East Coast foothold.
What the Spotted Lanternfly Eats
The insect feeds on a broad range of plants, including fruit trees, ornamental trees, and woody crops. Tree-of-heaven is among its preferred hosts, though its appetite extends well beyond that single species…