Three years after spotted lanternflies were first detected in Virginia, the invasive insect is now swarming the state, threatening its $8.37 billion wine industry, writes Kyle Swenson for The Washington Post.
While Virginia’s national distribution is not as robust as California’s or Oregon’s, its wine industry boasts more than 271 wineries, with many relying on vineyard visits and tasting rooms to remain operational.
“Virginia wineries are better known as a destination than as the source for a bottle you pick up at Costco,” said Christian Hoeffel, the owner of Vineyard Voyages.
The invasion has caused an all-out call to arms, with grape growers and researchers joining forces to raise public awareness of the insect and pursue mitigation tactics.
Virginia is learning from Pennsylvania, where it first appeared in 2014. It was later determined that the adult spotted lanternfly favors feeding on grapevines, a fact that took time to be recognized by Pennsylvania wine growers.
“No one at first knew what this was, and there are cases of entire vineyard blocks being killed off,” said Doug Pfeiffer, a Virginia Tech professor.
He said that insecticide use has tripled in areas of Pennsylvania impacted by lanternflies, according to several studies.
Read more about the threat that spotted lanternflies pose in Virginia in The Washington Post.
Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on DELCO Today in August 2025.
