By Prairie State Wire |
Sep 26, 2023
The Illinois Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of the spotted lanternfly in Illinois. This marks the first detection of this invasive species in the state. On September 16, a live adult was reported, leading to a site visit by state, federal, and local officials. By September 18, they identified a moderately populated area of these insects. Specimens were collected for identification, with confirmation received on September 26.