WORCESTER, Mass. - The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) said its taken a number of calls from Worcester residents regarding a destructive pest.

Spotted lanternfly was first found in Worcester in September of 2022 and the department confirms a current infestation in the Grafton Hill neighborhood. During the summer and fall, the invasive insect has grey wings with black spots. The lanternfly feeds on plant sap and secretes a sticky sugar waste product called honeydew.

The survey team is working to assess the infestation in Worcester and at this point, the department tells us its focus is on slowing the spread of spotted lanternfly because research shows the insect cannot be eradicated. 

"Spotted Lanternfly is a sap feeding pest. It has this little straw-like mouth part that it sticks into plants to suck the sap out,” said Jennifer Forman Orth, an environmental biologist with the MDAR. “It doesn't bite, it doesn't attack people.  It will flee if you try and get near it which confounds people who are dealing with the pest a lot of the time but it’s possible that as the population starts to spread, it will become a nuisance for folks."

The department offers an online management guide for impacted homeowners. They also ask Worcester residents who spot the insect in other parts of the city to take a picture and report it. Visit the department’s website for more.