Invasive Spotted Lanternflies Thrive in US

Genomic analysis reveals how the insects adapted to urban environments in their native China, enabling rapid spread across Northeast US

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Spotted lanternflies, an invasive species from Asia, have been rapidly spreading across the Northeast US since their arrival around 2014. Scientists have now conducted genomic analyses that reveal the insects adapted to thrive in urban environments in their native Shanghai, China, which has allowed them to easily adapt to cities in the US and spread quickly despite low genetic diversity from a single introduction.

Why it matters

The spotted lanternflies pose a threat to trees, orchards, and vineyards in the Northeast, as their feeding and excrement can damage and suffocate plants. Their rapid spread and ability to adapt to urban environments has alarmed wildlife experts, who are encouraging people to kill the insects on sight to help curb their expansion.

The details

Researchers found the spotted lanternflies showed genetic adaptations to handle stress from heat, pollution, and pesticides in their native Shanghai, which has enabled them to thrive in similar urban environments in the Northeast US. The insects likely arrived in Pennsylvania in 2014 via a shipment of stone from South Korea, and have since spread as far north as Boston and Providence, RI, likely hitching rides on trains, ferries, and human backpacks. While the low genetic diversity from a single introduction should theoretically limit their adaptability, the lanternflies have been able to 'take over' new ecosystems.

  • The spotted lanternflies were first detected in the US around 2014.
  • A paper on the insects' genomic adaptations was published in The Royal Society journal in 2026.

The players

Kristen Winchell

An associate professor of biology at New York University who co-authored the research paper on the spotted lanternflies.

Fallon Meng

A doctoral candidate at NYU's Department of Biology who contributed to the research.

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What they’re saying

“They were adapting to thrive in urban environments in the native range, and that primed them then to be successful in whatever the next urban environment they landed in.”

— Kristen Winchell, Associate Professor of Biology, New York University

What’s next

Researchers expect the spotted lanternflies to continue spreading west toward Chicago, and say invasive management efforts in cities may be necessary to curb their further expansion.

The takeaway

The rapid spread and adaptability of the invasive spotted lanternflies, despite low genetic diversity, highlights the threat invasive species can pose to new ecosystems, and underscores the importance of early detection and containment efforts to prevent such species from becoming established.