At all stages of their lives, spotted lanternflies are easy to identify as they don’t bear any particular resemblance to native insects and have distinct physical characteristics. Their key features depend on what stage of life they’re in.
Adults: Normally growing to just under an inch in length, they have black heads, four visible forelegs, dull orange eyes, and grey or brown wings adorned with their characteristic black spots. Additionally, when in flight, their bright red hindwings are easily visible. Adult female lanternflies are slightly larger than their male counterparts and have a red spot near the end of their abdomen.
Larval: In their larval stage, lanternflies are just as easy to recognize. Early-stage nymphs look like large aphids but are jet black in color with white spots while late-stage nymphs are red with white spots and black markings.
Egg: Female lanternflies prefer to lay their eggs in trees but any flat wooden surface will do. Lanternfly eggs are laid in groups of about 30-50 and are arranged in flat, white masses that can be easily mistaken for fungus or mold. Eventually though, the white protective layer will fall off, revealing the brown eggs, arranged in neat rows.