Spotted Lanternfly inRochester, NYSPOTTED LANTERNFLY GUIDE
Monroe County confirmed SLF in 2022, placing Rochester — New York's fourth-largest city — in an active watch zone as SLF spreads west through the Finger Lakes region. The Genesee River gorge provides prime Tree of Heaven habitat on its dramatic gorge edges running through the urban core. The I-490/I-390 interchange is a major freight hub accelerating SLF dispersal through western New York. The University of Rochester and RIT campuses are under active monitoring, and the Erie Canal heritage district's historic transportation corridor provides established TOH habitat connecting Rochester to the broader upstate SLF spread front.
Where it's showing up
Key Neighborhoods
Highest activity zones
SLF Hotspots
Genesee River gorge (prime TOH habitat on gorge edges)
Active zone
I-490 / I-390 interchange zone
Active zone
University of Rochester campus
Active zone
RIT campus greenspaces
Active zone
Lake Ontario shoreline industrial corridor
Active zone
Primary SLF food source
Tree of Heaven in Rochester, NY
The Genesee River gorge is Rochester's most significant SLF habitat zone — steep gorge edges with disturbed soils are prime Tree of Heaven colonization ground, and SLF populations concentrated along gorge margins can spread readily through Rochester's urban parks and neighborhoods. The I-490/I-390 interchange has highway margin TOH serving as a primary egg mass dispersal vector. Lake Ontario's industrial shoreline corridor and the Erie Canal heritage district provide additional TOH habitat connecting Rochester to confirmed populations to the east in Onondaga County.
Identify Tree of Heaven →Local action resources
What To Do in Rochester, NY
Report a Sighting
Every sighting in Rochester, NY maps the invasion front. Report directly to New York State DEC.
Report Now →Squish on Sight
See a spotted lanternfly? Kill it immediately — it is legal and encouraged in all states. Learn the best kill methods.
Full Fight Guide →Map ToH in Your Block
Tree of Heaven removal cuts off SLF food supply. Add ToH sightings to the community map to guide removal efforts.
View Sighting Map →Statewide resources
Full New York State Guide
County-level data, quarantine zones, treatment guides, and agency resources for the entire state.
See the full New York guide →Community intelligence
Live Sighting Map
See where SLF has been spotted near you in Rochester, NY. Add your own sighting to help map the front.
Open the Map →Free weekly fight briefing
Fight SLF in Rochester, NY.
One email per week. Your zip code. Your threat level. Your action plan. Know exactly what to do this week in Rochester, NY.