Spotted Lanternfly: An Invasive Pest in the Eastern U.S. Spotted Lanternfly, or Lycorma delicatula, first appeared in North America in 2014, when the winged planthopper (not technically a fly) was identified in southeastern Pennsylvania. As an invasive species, Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) entered a habitat where it had no natural predators and began wreaking havoc. Northeastern U.S. residents have begun to recognize swarms of adult SLF in their communities or become familiar wit