Spotted lanternfly confirmed in Princeton

The Town of Princeton announced Oct. 18 that the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, known as MDAR, has confirmed an infestation of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect, in town.

MDAR's survey team followed up on reports submitted to the agency's pest reporting website in September and October and confirmed a population of adult spotted lanternflies.

The insect attacks tree-of-heaven, grapevines, maple trees, hop vines and many other plants. It is known to affect grape and wine producers and other agricultural commodities. The pest can also interfere with outdoor recreation when infestations reach high levels, because adult spotted lanternflies swarm in late summer and fall. The insects do not bite or sting, but they gather in large numbers and coat surfaces with a sticky waste product called honeydew.

Residents may see MDAR or U.S. Department of Agriculture surveyors checking trees in the area this fall and winter to determine how far the infestation extends. The town is encouraging residents and businesses to report any sightings of the pest.

More information, including a management guide, is available on MDAR's detailed spotted lanternfly page.

Source: Town of Princeton announcement, October 18, 2026.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the original announcement.