Spotted Lanternfly inSterling, VASPOTTED LANTERNFLY GUIDE
Sterling — a Loudoun County community of 35,000 adjacent to Dulles International Airport — confirmed SLF in 2021 and is now heavily infested. The Route 28 tech corridor connects Sterling to the broader Dulles technology zone where freight and commercial vehicle traffic concentrates SLF egg mass dispersal. Cascades, one of Northern Virginia's largest planned communities, features a mature tree canopy throughout its extensive residential development that supports established SLF populations. Claude Moore Colonial Farm and Algonkian Regional Park's Potomac River frontage provide natural Tree of Heaven habitat in historic and recreational landscapes. VA quarantine lifted March 2025.
Where it's showing up
Key Neighborhoods
Highest activity zones
SLF Hotspots
Cascades subdivision mature tree canopy
Active zone
Claude Moore Colonial Farm (historic agricultural landscape)
Active zone
Route 28 tech corridor margins
Active zone
Algonkian Regional Park Potomac River frontage
Active zone
Dulles Airport perimeter vehicle corridors
Active zone
Primary SLF food source
Tree of Heaven in Sterling, VA
Algonkian Regional Park's Potomac River frontage has established Tree of Heaven along its natural corridor — a primary SLF habitat zone connecting Sterling's populations to the broader river system. Cascades subdivision's mature residential tree canopy provides extensive SLF habitat throughout this large planned community. Route 28's tech corridor highway margins are colonized by ToH serving as egg mass dispersal stepping stones through the Dulles zone. Claude Moore Colonial Farm's historic agricultural landscape adds additional ToH-supported habitat in Sterling's western sector.
Identify Tree of Heaven →Local action resources
What To Do in Sterling, VA
Report a Sighting
Every sighting in Sterling, VA maps the invasion front. Report directly to Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
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 Virginia State Guide
County-level data, quarantine zones, treatment guides, and agency resources for the entire state.
See the full Virginia guide →Community intelligence
Live Sighting Map
See where SLF has been spotted near you in Sterling, VA. Add your own sighting to help map the front.
Open the Map →Free weekly fight briefing
Fight SLF in Sterling, VA.
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