The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is expanding the spotted lanternfly (SLF) quarantine to include counties in northeast and northwest Ohio to reduce the spread of the invasive insect. The media release that was distributed is included in its entirety.

The counties currently quarantined include:

Belmont
Carroll
Columbiana
Cuyahoga
Erie
Franklin
Hamilton
Jefferson
Lorain
Lucas
Mahoning
Muskingum
Ottawa
Portage
Seneca
Summit
Trumbull
Wood

(*those in italics where recently added)

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (May 15, 2025) – The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is expanding the spotted lanternfly (SLF) quarantine to include counties in northeast and northwest Ohio to reduce the spread of the invasive insect.

The six new counties now under quarantine are: Wood, Seneca, Summit, Portage, Trumbull, and Carroll counties. A map of all counties under quarantine can be found here.

Under quarantine, products such as trees and nursery stock may not be moved out of the area without a compliance agreement, permit, or inspection certificate. Producers who ship these products to non-regulated areas must have their stock inspected and each load must be accompanied by a certificate which confirms their product is free of SLF.

Businesses that need assistance with certifying shipments of products at risk of spreading SLF, should reach out to ODA’s Plant Pest Control Section for assistance.

The updated quarantine is a result of several new infestations reported through ODA’s online Ohio Plant Pest Reporter. ODA continues to encourage community members to report sightings of the spotted lanternfly in counties that are not currently under quarantine. Identification and life cycle images can be found here. Recommendations on treatment methods for SLF on your property can be found in ODA’s Spotted Lanternfly Homeowner Management Guide.

“The spotted lanternfly is an invasive pest that is known to cause harm to Ohio’s agricultural industry,” ODA Director Brian Baldridge said. “We appreciate community members stepping up to report this insect when it is found. With their help, our experts can more efficiently identify SLF, treat it, and work to protect the abundant plant life we have here in Ohio.”

The spotted lanternfly is an insect native to Asia that is a pest of grapes, hops, and apples, along with many other species of plants. This pest is specifically a concern for Ohio’s grape and wine industry, which contributes more than $6 billion dollars in economic activity to the state yearly. An invasive tree known as tree of heaven is the primary host for spotted lanternfly.

ODA will begin treating SLF in Franklin and Hamilton counties this spring. The spotted lanternfly was first detected in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014. It was likely brought to the U.S. by imported goods. The first confirmation in Ohio was in Mingo Junction in 2020. Video of SLF can be found here.

More Information

ODA SLF Website https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/plant-health/invasive-pests/invasive-insects/slf

Ron Wilson