Iowa warns of spotted lanternfly threat to local agriculture

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) is urging residents to watch for the spotted lanternfly (SLF), an invasive insect from Asia. This pest, first detected in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014, has spread to nearly 20 states. In September, a Des Moines County resident reported an SLF sighting in an industrial area with significant truck traffic. IDALS confirmed the insect with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. While no ongoing infestation was found, IDALS encourages public reports of SLF sightings. The pest poses a threat to grape, orchard, nursery, and logging industries if it spreads further in the U.S. SLF favors the tree of heaven, a fast-growing plant commonly found in urban Iowa. These insects are most