The first spotted lanternfly was identified in north Fayette County in the second half of 2025. It continues a trend of the bug moving into new counties across Kentucky. Now, state entomologists are sharing why to be on the lookout for these insects – and how you can slow down the spread.
“Spotted lantern flies are an invasive plant hopper from Asia,” said Jonathan Larson, an extension entomologist at the University of Kentucky. “They started their sort of invasion in the United States over in Pennsylvania in 2014, and ever since then they’ve been spreading to other states.”
The bugs first appeared in Gallatin County in 2023 before spreading into more northern Kentucky counties…