HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. — If you spot one of these bugs this summer, the state of Tennessee a simple message:
Kill it.
The spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that can damage trees, grapevines and other plants, has already been found in Hamilton County.
Hamilton County recorded a confirmed spotted lanternfly detection in 2025, making it one of only a handful of Tennessee counties where the destructive insect has been found, according to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture…