What was found, and where
On 15 September 2026 the CFIA confirmed the first detection of spotted lanternfly in Canada, in Windsor, Ontario. Movement restrictions on regulated materials are in place and surveillance is under way to determine the extent of the infestation. Windsor is roughly 700 kilometres from Belleville, so this is a watch-and-report situation in Eastern Ontario rather than an active infestation.
- Confirmed in Windsor on 15 September 2026
- First detection anywhere in Canada
- Movement restrictions now in place
- No known Eastern Ontario population
Why it matters here
Spotted lanternfly feeds on the sap of more than 100 plant species and is especially damaging to grapevines, which makes Prince Edward County’s wine industry the obvious regional concern. It also affects fruit trees, hardwoods, nursery stock and ornamental plantings in residential yards and parks.
- Severe impact on grapevines
- Affects fruit trees and hardwoods
- Damages nursery and ornamental stock
- Produces honeydew and sooty mould
Identifying the adult
Adults are about 25 millimetres long at rest, with greyish forewings marked with black spots and a bright red underwing that shows when they open or fly. They are conspicuous insects and most people who see one remember it. Adults are present from midsummer into autumn.
- About 25 mm long at rest
- Grey forewings with black spots
- Bright red hindwings, visible in flight
- Present midsummer through autumn
Egg masses are the autumn priority
From autumn into spring the insect is present as egg masses rather than adults, and this is what to look for now. Egg masses appear as greyish-brown putty-like smears about 25 to 40 millimetres long, laid on tree trunks, stone, outdoor furniture, vehicles, trailers and equipment. They are easily mistaken for dried mud.
- Grey-brown, putty-like smears
- 25–40 mm long
- On trunks, stone, vehicles and equipment
- Look now through to spring
How to report a sighting
Report suspected sightings to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. A useful report includes clear photographs and an accurate location, and the CFIA follows up, which may include site surveys and collection. Reporting is the single most valuable thing an Ontario property owner can do at this stage.
- Report to the CFIA immediately
- Include clear photographs
- Give an exact location
- Keep the specimen if you can do so safely
Do not move it around
The species spreads primarily by hitchhiking. Egg masses travel on vehicles, trailers, firewood, camping gear, nursery stock and outdoor furniture. Checking your vehicle and equipment after visiting an affected area is a genuinely effective preventive measure.
- Do not move firewood
- Check vehicles and trailers
- Inspect camping and outdoor equipment
- Buy nursery stock from reputable sources
This is not a pest control service call
Spotted lanternfly is a regulated plant pest under active CFIA management, not a structural pest. Emerald does not treat it and you should be cautious of any company offering to. If you have found an insect you cannot identify, our pest identifier can help you work out what it is — and if it is a lanternfly, the next step is the CFIA, not a treatment.
- CFIA leads the response
- Not a structural pest control service
- Beware of opportunistic treatment offers
- Use our pest identifier if unsure