Ashley Randle

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Massachusetts urges residents to kill invasive spotted lanternflies

As of September 2026: Leading the state's spotted lanternfly response

Massachusetts is asking residents to kill an invasive sap-feeding insect now confirmed in more than 145 of the state's 351 cities and towns. The spotted lanternfly, native to Asia, arrived in the U.S. in 2014 and reached Massachusetts in 2021.

Updated Sep 9

Notable Quotes

As populations of spotted lanternfly continue to expand, we anticipate that more residents will encounter SLF activity at home or where they work. We are taking a proactive, targeted approach by focusing our survey and treatment efforts where they have the greatest impact — safeguarding high-value agricultural crops and resources along with monitoring our shared borders with the rest of the New England region.

from Massachusetts urges residents to kill invasive spotted lanternflies · Updated Sep 9