Lycorma delicatula
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a species of planthopper indigenous to parts of China and Vietnam. It was accidentally introduced into South Korea and has spread invasively to Japan, 21 U.S. states, and Windsor, Ontario in Canada, (where it is often referred to by the acronym "SLF") and parts of Eastern Europe including Moldova. Its preferred host is the also invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), but it also feeds on other trees, and on crops including soybean, grapes, stone fruits, and the Malus (apple) genus. In its native habitat, L. delicatula populations are regulated by parasitic wasps.
The spotted lanternfly's life cycle is often centered on its preferred host, Ailanthus altissima, but L. delicatula can associate with more than 173 plants. Early life stages (instars) of the spotted lanternfly are characterized by spotted black and white nymphs that develop a red pigmentation and wings as they mature. Early life instars have a large host range that narrows with maturation. Adult spotted lanternflies have a black head, grey fore wings, and red hind wings. Adults do not have any specialized feeding associations with herbaceous plants but cause extensive damage to crops and ornamental plants. The piercing wounds caused by their mouthparts and the honeydew waste they excrete are harmful to the health of host plants. They feed on the sap of host plants, including the tree of heaven, which is also invasive in the United States. The spotted lanternfly does not pose direct danger to humans through biting or stinging. Spotted lanternflies lay egg masses containing 30–50 eggs, often covered with a grayish mud-like coating.
The species was introduced into South Korea in 2006 and Japan in 2009, where it has since been considered a pest. In September 2014, L. delicatula was first recorded in the United States, and as of 2022, it is considered an invasive species in much of the Northeastern United States, rapidly spreading south and west. L. delicatula's egg masses are the primary vector of spread, with Ailanthus altissima populations seen as a risk factor for further infestation globally. Ongoing pest control efforts have sought to limit population growth, due to the threat L. delicatula poses to global agricultural industries. Parts of the United States have undergone massive pest control efforts to cull the spotted lanternfly's population. However, this process indirectly harms other species. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shijiazhuang | 🇨🇳 China | |
| 2 | Baltimore | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Philadelphia | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | New York City | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Lanzhou | 🇨🇳 China | |
| 6 | Xi'an | 🇨🇳 China | |
| 7 | Gwangju | 🇰🇷 South Korea | |
| 8 | Tianjin | 🇨🇳 China | |
| 9 | Washington | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Jinan | 🇨🇳 China |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Spotted Lanternfly sighting in Shanghai on a given day, based on 57 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 34th most-seen of the 215 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June–July and September
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Spotted Lanternfly in Shanghai on a given day, against under 5% in December to March, the lowest months. Those are among Shanghai's wettest months, with about 160 mm of rain a month against 55 mm in December.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Spotted Lanternfly sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
22nd of 27
Of the 27 cities where we can rate Spotted Lanternfly sightings, Shanghai ranks 22nd at about 10%. The best odds are in Shijiazhuang (China, about 40%), Baltimore (United States, about 40%) and Philadelphia (United States, about 40%).
Same order: Hemiptera
The closest relatives of the Spotted Lanternfly that you can see in Shanghai (order Hemiptera, True Bugs, Hoppers, Aphids, and allies) are Eastern Horse Cicada (about 20%), Yellow-Spotted Stink Bug (about 10%) and Lake Pondskater (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Spotted Lanternfly is recorded against all the insects logged in Shanghai (57 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
