A state agency has enlisted the assistance of the public to look out for an invasive insect that could damage peaches, grapes and other Colorado crops.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture launched an informational website at https://ag.colorado.gov/spotted-lanternfly to teach people how to identify and eradicate the spotted lanternfly.

The website offers details about the insect as well as a form Coloradans are encouraged to use to report sightings to the Colorado Agricultural Pest Survey.

Native to Asia, the spotted lanternfly was discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014 and since has been found in 11 other states. A spotted lanternfly recently was found in Iowa.

 While no spotted lanternfly sightings have been confirmed in Colorado, state officials are asking residents and visitors to watch for the insect and take precautions to prevent its spread to the state.

“The spotted lanternfly is an invasive pest that could decimate Colorado’s signature crops like peaches, grapes, hops, and more than 70 other species of plants,” said Rich Guggenheim, manager of the plant health certification program. “The spotted lanternfly is a notorious hitchhiker, and Coloradans, as well as travelers visiting our state, should know what to look for to stop this invasive and destructive pest before it enters our state.”

The spotted lanternfly is mobile and spreads easily both through physically hopping and laying egg masses on such things as cars, trucks, trailers, moving pods and railcars. 

The primary host for the spotted lanternfly is the tree of heaven, an invasive tree in Colorado. However, the spotted lanternfly can cause irreparable damage to peaches, grapevines and other crops by feeding on plant sap.

Farmers — especially those growing peaches, grapes and hops — as well as landscapers and municipal arborists should be on the lookout for egg masses as well as trees of heaven.