Spotted Lanternfly inFayette County, KYSPOTTED LANTERNFLY GUIDE
Fayette County — encompassing Lexington and the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass horse country — confirmed spotted lanternfly in 2023 as the pest advanced along the I-75 corridor connecting Cincinnati and Lexington. The county's world-famous horse farms, bourbon distilleries, and thoroughbred nurseries face significant risk as SLF populations establish near orchard and vineyard operations throughout the region. Lexington's role as a college and commerce hub means high human traffic along US-60 and US-27 creates additional spread vectors into surrounding rural areas. Monitoring of the Newtown Pike and Nicholasville Road corridors has documented increasing population counts year over year.
Highest activity zones
SLF Hotspots in Fayette County, KY
Downtown Lexington
Active zone
Chevy Chase
Active zone
Hamburg
Active zone
Newtown Pike
Active zone
Nicholasville Road corridor
Active zone
Primary SLF food source
Tree of Heaven in Fayette County, KY
Tree of Heaven is present along the I-75 corridor between Lexington and the Kenton/Boone County border, as well as along railroad lines and disturbed land margins throughout Fayette County. The Newtown Pike and US-27 roadsides have established ToH populations that serve as bridgehead habitat for SLF moving into horse farm country. Bourbon distillery grounds and adjacent orchard operations should be carefully monitored.
Identify Tree of Heaven →Local action resources
What To Do in Fayette County, KY
Report a Sighting
Every sighting in Fayette County, KY maps the invasion front. Report directly to Kentucky Dept of Agriculture.
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 KY State Guide
County-level data, quarantine zones, treatment guides, and agency resources for the entire state.
See the full KY guide →Community intelligence
Live Sighting Map
See where SLF has been spotted near you in Fayette County, KY. Add your own sighting to help map the front.
Open the Map →Free weekly fight briefing
Fight SLF in Fayette County, KY.
One email per week. Your zip code. Your threat level. Your action plan. Know exactly what to do this week in Fayette County, KY.