Dept. of Agriculture looking for help in stopping the spread of an invasive species in Illinois

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Illinois Department of Agriculture is warning the public about an invasive species in the state — and is asking for your help.

The spotted lanternfly is native to China — but has been introduced across the United States. Experts say it first popped up in Illinois in 2023 — and still remains. The department said sightings have been on the rise in Cook County — feeding mostly on grapevines.

“When it comes to like homeowners and what we’re seeing in in the areas of Chicago that we have it in, it’s in people’s backyards,” State Plant Regulatory Official Scott Schirmer said. “It’s not in areas where we’re traditionally doing this kind of management, like, a vineyard or potentially an orchard or something. So, it’s really not recommended to go overboard with pesticides or any kind of management because they’re not really killing anything or doing any negative damage.”

Schirmer encourages anyone who sees a lanternfly to let the department know through an email set up specifically for them. To reach out, you can email lanternfly@illinois.edu; officials said you should include a picture of the bug, and where you saw it.