Quarantine for invasive Spotted Lanternfly ends in Virginia
The Spotted lanternfly is an invasive planthopper that feeds on plants like grapes, hops, stone fruits, and hardwood trees. They typically feed in large numbers and excrete a fluid that damages plants.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) made the announcement on Thursday, and the change removes all regulatory requirements restricting intrastate movement of the spotted lanternfly, as well as anything capable of moving the insect in Virginia.
However, interstate movement of spotted lanternfly or articles capable of moving the spotted lanternfly may still be regulated by the importing state.
Get ready to stomp! Spotted lanternflies are about to reappear in Virginia
The areas of Albemarle, Augusta, Carroll, Clarke, Frederick, Page, Prince William, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Warren, and Wythe counties and the cities of Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Winchester were under spotted lanternfly quarantine.
The quarantine was first created in 2019 in Frederick County and the city of Winchester in an attempt to slow the spread to uninfected regions of the Commonwealth. The quarantine was then expanded to 12 additional counties and ten cities as the invasive species population grew across the state.
VDACS has determined that the quarantine is no longer effective, and as of March 2025, sixty-seven cities and counties have reported a persistent reproducing population of the spotted lanternfly.
Businesses transporting products capable of carrying the insect to other states or other countries with import restrictions will need to obtain or maintain their existing spotted lanternfly permit, establish a compliance agreement, or request a phytosanitary certificate.
VDACS will continue to monitor spotted lanternfly spread to uninfested areas, and the agency encourages the public to continue to submit reports through VDACS' Office of Plant Industry Services Invasive Species Reporting Tool. Please visit www.vdacs.virginia.gov/plant-industry-services-spotted-lanternfly.shtml for more information or contact the VDACS Office of Plant Industry Services at (804) 786-3515.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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