Spotted lanternfly guidance for Philadelphia yards and vehicles, covering the plant pest, the state quarantine and reporting.
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Spotted lanternfly is a plant pest, not an indoor pest, and Philadelphia County has been in the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's quarantine area. Residents should report sightings through the state, check vehicles before leaving the zone and manage the tree-of-heaven and host plants on their property. Philadelphia Pest Control advises on the yard and confirms the plan on site.
The spotted lanternfly is a sap-feeding insect that has become a concern for Pennsylvania's trees, vines and crops. It feeds on the sap of many plants and leaves behind a sticky residue, and it is most visible from late summer into fall, when adults are present in large numbers on tree trunks, fences and vehicles. It is a plant pest, not a pest that lives inside a house.
Philadelphia County has been part of the state's spotted lanternfly quarantine, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and a 2023 Penn State map. The quarantine rules are the state's, and they change as the insect spreads. The practical job for a household is to watch for the insect, avoid carrying it on a vehicle and report what is seen.
This page explains what spotted lanternfly guidance covers in Philadelphia, how sightings are reported and what a property owner can do in the yard. Calls to Philadelphia Pest Control are answered 24/7 at (855) 974-4733, and the yard is checked on site when a homeowner asks for help with the insects or the host plants.
Do not handle egg masses or large numbers of insects with bare hands, and do not use a pesticide on a tree without a plan that matches the state guidance. Keep children and pets away from any product applied to a tree or a trunk until it has dried. If a tree is being cut or removed, keep people clear of the fall zone.
The service most homeowners need. The technician checks the property for the insect and the host plants, helps identify what was seen and explains how to report it to the state. It is the first step for a yard that has not been checked before.
Where tree of heaven or another host grows on the property, the plan covers how the plant is handled. The technician explains the removal and cleanup options, and any work on a tree is planned with the owner and any neighbor sharing the boundary.
Insects can hitch a ride on vehicles, outdoor furniture, firewood and stone. The technician explains a simple check before leaving the area and how to clean a vehicle, so the household does not carry the insect into a new county.
If it's an emergency, call now. For non-urgent spotted lanternfly guidance, send the form and we'll call you back.
Spotted lanternfly is a plant pest. It feeds on the sap of trees, vines and crops, and it is not an insect that lives in the walls or the living space of a house. Its main impact on a property is on the plants, and the sticky residue it leaves can be a nuisance on outdoor surfaces.
The insect feeds by piercing plant tissue and drawing sap, and it excretes a sweet, sticky substance called honeydew. That residue can attract sooty mold and wasps, and it can make a patio, a car or a fence unpleasant to use. The plant itself can weaken when the insects feed heavily.
Because it is a plant pest, the work on a property is mostly outdoors. The technician focuses on the trees and surfaces where the insects gather, and the household is advised on what can be done inside the house, which is usually nothing beyond checking the outdoor furniture and gear.
Philadelphia County has been part of Pennsylvania's spotted lanternfly quarantine area, according to a 2023 Penn State map and the state's own guidance. The current list is the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's to publish, and it changes as the insect spreads. Check the state's current list before moving items out of the area.
A quarantine restricts moving items that could carry the insect, such as vehicles, outdoor furniture, firewood and stone, out of the zone. Those rules are designed to slow the spread to other parts of the state and the country, and the state's enforcement is the authority on them.
A household does not need to be an expert on the quarantine map. The practical step is to check the current state guidance before a trip and to clean vehicles and gear before leaving the area. The technician can point to the state's channels for the current list.
Report a sighting to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture through the state's own reporting channel, which is listed on the department's spotted lanternfly page. Include a photograph, the location and the date. Do not try to collect large numbers of insects for reporting, and do not handle egg masses with bare hands.
A good report is specific. Note the address or the nearest cross street, the host plant or surface where the insect was seen and the life stage if it is clear. A photograph taken from a safe distance is usually enough for the state to act on.
Egg masses can be scraped into a sealed bag with a card or a putty knife and then disposed of as the state directs. Ask the technician for the current state procedure before handling egg masses, because the method matters for the result.
Tree of heaven is a preferred host of spotted lanternfly, and its presence on a property raises the risk for the yard. The technician can explain the removal and cleanup options, and any work on the tree should be planned with the owner and any neighbor sharing the boundary. Cutting a tree without a plan can cause new sprouts.
Tree of heaven spreads by root suckers and can sprout again after it is cut. That is why a removal plan often includes a follow-up to treat new growth, and why the technician asks about nearby lots and neighbors before recommending work.
Other host plants can also be present in the yard, and the plan covers the ones the insects prefer. A technician will explain which plants are most likely to attract the insect and which steps reduce the risk without harming the rest of the garden.
The technician walks the yard and checks the trees, vines and shrubs for the insects, egg masses and the sticky residue. Tree of heaven is noted because it is a preferred host, and its location shapes the advice for the yard.
The insect is identified by its appearance at each life stage, since the nymphs and the adults look different. A clear photograph helps, and the technician can compare what is seen with the state's guidance before advising.
The technician explains how to report a sighting to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and what the state asks for. The current quarantine list is the state's to publish, so the advice points to the state's own reporting channel.
The plan covers the host plants on the property, including whether a tree of heaven should be removed and how the trunks and surfaces should be cleaned. Any product used on a tree is chosen with the state rules in mind and is applied only where a plan calls for it.
The technician reminds the household to check vehicles, outdoor furniture and firewood before moving them out of the quarantine area. A follow-up check is set for the season, since the insects are most visible in late summer and fall.
Philadelphia's residential blocks often have tree of heaven growing in alleys, along fences and in vacant lots next to older rowhouses. Those trees are a common host in the city, and a property that backs onto one may see the insect even when its own yard has no host.
The city's dense housing means a spotted lanternfly on one yard can be reached from its neighbors. The technician checks the boundaries and the alleys as well as the property itself, because the host plants on a neighboring lot shape the risk for the whole block.
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
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The spotted lanternfly is a plant pest, not an indoor pest.
A yard inspection and reporting visit is priced differently from host plant work, and removal depends on the size and location of the tree. Philadelphia Pest Control does not publish a figure on this page. A technician confirms the scope and the price on site.
It is a plant pest. It does not live in the walls or the living space of a house. Its effect is on trees, vines and crops, and on the sticky residue it leaves on outdoor surfaces. The work at a home is mostly outdoors.
Report it to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture through the reporting channel listed on the department's spotted lanternfly page. Include a photograph, the location and the date. The technician can also help you identify the insect before you report it.
Yes. Insects can hitch a ride on vehicles, and the quarantine rules restrict moving items out of the zone. Check the car, the trailer and any outdoor furniture or firewood before a trip, and follow the state's current guidance on cleaning.
Any product applied to a tree or the surfaces around the house should be chosen with the state guidance in mind. A technician can explain which product fits the situation and where it may be applied. Do not apply a product to a tree without a plan.
The adults are most visible in late summer and fall, when they gather on tree trunks, fences and vehicles in large numbers. The nymphs and egg masses look different and can be missed, so the technician checks each life stage during the visit.