The spotted lanternfly likely came to America accidentally through international trade, hitching rides as egg masses on imported goods such as stone or wood shipments. It was first confirmed in the U.S. in 2014 in Berks County, Pennsylvania, but evidence suggests it may have arrived as early as 2012 on a stone shipment. Since then, it has spread to multiple states, mainly through human movement of infested materials like firewood, outdoor furniture, and vehicles. The insect is native to parts of China, Vietnam, and neighboring Asian countries and was introduced unintentionally during trade activities.
