The state agency responsible for agricultural conservation announced Tuesday that an infestation of the spotted lanternfly was found in Springfield last week.

“With new populations of the spotted lanternfly likely to pop up more and more frequently as the invasive pest becomes established across the Northeast, it is critical that we all remain diligent in identifying them early on,” said Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner John Lebeaux in a statement.

Agricultural inspectors are in the middle of performing surveys in the Springfield area in order to determine the extent of the infestation. MDAR has not determined the origin of the infestation, but the agency warns that cities with large industrial areas like Springfield are at especially high risk for spotted lanternfly introductions since the pest can hitchhike on trucks and other methods of transportation that come from infected states.

The spotted lanternfly’s preferred host plant, the tree of heaven, can often be found in urban and industrial areas, making them more susceptible to harboring large populations of the spotted lanternfly. The agency is also asking for anyone who has recently received goods or materials from Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia — areas where the spotted lanternfly is known to have been introduced — to be on the lookout.

“Anyone who sees this pest is asked to report it promptly. Early detection will help limit the spread of spotted lanternfly and give orchards, farms and other growers time to prepare,” Lebeaux said.

State officials are turning to the public to help identify the spotted lanternfly and are asking people to take a photo or collect a specimen and report the sighting using MDAR’s online reporting form.

The spotted lanternfly was first spotted in the United States in 2014 and it is an invasive sap-feeding insect from Asia. The insect’s main host plant is the tree of heaven, but it can also attack a variety of trees, shrubs, vines and can impact other agricultural commodities such as grapes, wine, apples, peaches and maple syrup, according to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MASSDARP).

Some of the key features of a spotted lanternfly include: brownish-gray forewings with black spots; when disturbed, the lanternfly will reveal bright red and white hindwings; over the winter, they can appear as gray egg mass laid on any smooth surface, resembling mud.

Other plants the spotted lanternfly can attack: birch trees, lilac, maple, poplar, roses, stone fruit, sycamore and willows.

Current list of cities and towns in Massachusetts where the species has been found include Great Barrington, Ludlow, Springfield, Hadley, Boston, Sturbridge and Shrewsbury.

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