where do lanternflies come from

Lanternflies, specifically the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), originate from parts of Asia including China, Vietnam, India, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. The species is indigenous to subtropical regions of Southeast Asia, with its original evolution traced back to southwest China. It has since spread invasively to countries like South Korea, Japan, and the United States, where it causes significant ecological and agricultural damage. In the United States, the spotted lanternfly was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has rapidly spread to multiple states. Its primary host in its native and introduced range is the invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), but it feeds on many other plants as well.