AP Photo A spotted lanternfly is pictured in August 2022 in Long Branch, N.J.

The growing presence of the spotted lanternfly has state officials concerned with its potential impact on the grape industry.

“Keep in mind this is something that has only been in the country for about eight years now,” Chris Logue, director for the Division of Plant Industry with the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, said of the invasive plant hopper species native to Asia.

“There’s still a lot that we don’t know about the spotted lanternfly and we don’t want to be caught by surprise in the future if it begins to cause issues on other crops or natural resources that are important to us,” he said this week during an online news conference.

Logue said the spotted lanternfly was first discovered in the United States in 2014; on Staten Island in New York in August 2020; and most recently in Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana and Michigan.

“We don’t know specifically how it got here,” he said. “We think it got here through egg masses on some ships for stone or construction, but we don’t know for sure and that’s often the case for invasive species.”

The insect is known to feed on more than 70 plant species. They are known as good hitchhikers and have the ability to move around during all of their life stages, which Logue said presents a challenge. Egg masses particularly have the ability to be transported long distances.

While the biggest concern still remains with the spotted lanternfly’s impact on grape crops, Logue said other crops may be at risk once more is known.

Logue noted the spotted lanternfly’s ability to suck the sap out of a plant, leaving it stressed, and then leaving behind honeydew and sooty mold.

Sooty mold has the ability to reduce plant photosynthesis while honeydew has a chance of “causing an off” later in the grapes or other crops.

The spotted lanternfly also makes it unpleasant to be outdoors, something that Logue said the Department Of Agriculture and Markets is also watching. The state has been partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other states to work on solving the spotted lanternfly problem.

Since it was first discovered on Staten Island, 15 additional counties in the state have been marked as a location. Logue said this does not necessarily mean the whole county has the spotted lanternfly but that the density in certain areas can be high.

Locally, the spotted lanternfly has been confirmed in Buffalo and Syracuse — though in small numbers.

The spotted lanternfly’s life cycle has them emerging from their eggs in May. During the winter months, Logue said it was encouraged to scrape off egg masses to decrease their population.

“It is a fairly small insect, black body with white spots,” Logue said of the insect while a juvenile. “It does not have the very showy wings of the adult spotted lanternfly.”

Logue encouraged sightings of the spotted lanternfly to be reported, especially in areas where they are not yet confirmed.

Businesses and vineyards should also remain on the lookout. The Department of Agriculture and Markets has survey and treatment crews out throughout the year.

Mechanical control measures include egg scrapping and vacuuming up juvenile spotted lanternflies. Logue said when caught, the insect can also be sealed in plastic bags in the sun.

The national effort has included a five-year strategic plan that is set to be released shortly. The plan includes other states, such as Washington and California. The spotted lanternfly has not yet been discovered in those states, but concerns have been raised by grape producers in California.

To report a spotted lanternfly sighting, visit agriculture.ny.gov/reportSLF