The goals of this project are to conduct a widespread assessment of spotted lanternfly (lycorma delicatula; SLF) pathways in response to the introduction of SLF to ohio

The Ohio Department of Agriculture received a $220,220 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025), effective August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026. The agreement funds a comprehensive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula; SLF) detection, delimitation, and suppression initiative across Ohio in response to the pest's introduction to the state. Key deliverables include widespread pathway assessments to identify SLF spread routes through transportation corridors (rest areas, truck stops, and railways), trapping and monitoring at confirmed infestation sites, quarantine enforcement activities, detection surveys in high-risk locations, and suppression treatment applications during critical life stages in 2025 and 2026.

The project will generate pest surveillance data, develop and maintain an Ohio SLF population database, and conduct stakeholder and public outreach regarding detections and annual results. Expected outcomes include identification of infested locations and spread pathways in areas with heavy transportation risk, isolation and suppression of reproducing populations before they threaten regulated article movement, mapping of Ailanthus altissima (SLF host plant) populations in Northeast Ohio, and establishment of updated quarantine boundaries based on findings. The initiative benefits the entire United States by addressing SLF spread risks through Ohio's extensive transportation infrastructure, including major railways and highways that create regional and national pest transmission pathways.

Also, multiple suppression treatment methods will be conducted throughout of 2025 and 2026, at critical life stages of SLF in areas that have been determined to harbor an established population.activities to be performed: this project will emphasize trapping in transportation hubs and corridors such as rest areas, truck stops, and railways and delimitation around confirmed detections. Traps will be deployed on SLF hosts in these areas. When appropriate, quarantine enforcement and permitting for movement of potentially infested material will be established. Detection surveys will be conducted in high-risk locations and to follow up on reported sightings, and delimiting surveys will occur where SLF infestations have been confirmed.deliverables and expected outcomes: identification of locations infested by and pathways for the spread of SLF, specifically in areas with heavy transportation risk. Identify and suppress isolated reproducing spotted lanternfly populations before they can become a threat to the movement of regulated articles. Identification and location of ailanthus altissima populations in northeast ohio. Negative results would demonstrate an absence SLF. Positive results that would prompt responses to mitigate the spread and control or eradicate known infestations and allow for updated quarantine boundaries to be established. Generation of data for pest risk databases; develop and maintain an inclusive database on spotted lanternfly populations in ohio. Outreach to and education of stakeholders and the general public. Interested stakeholders will routinely be informed of any positive detections and at the end of the fiscal year be informed of all results and outcomes.intended beneficiary(IES): the whole USA , because ohio has a plethora of transportation corridors: several railways, major freeways, and the proximity of ohio to several states already infested with SLF, render ohio a very high-risk state for continued SLF introduction and spread.subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: none at this time.