Spotted Lanternfly inFranklin County, OHSPOTTED LANTERNFLY GUIDE
Franklin County is the heart of the Columbus metro area — Ohio's most populous county and home to the state capital, Columbus. Confirmed in the Ohio SLF watch zone in 2022 as populations advanced westward from Pennsylvania and West Virginia, Franklin County presents a unique combination of high-traffic interstate infrastructure, a massive university campus, and extensive riparian corridors that create ideal conditions for SLF establishment and rapid spread. The Ohio State University — the largest single-campus university in the United States, with over 60,000 students — brings enormous year-round foot traffic and vehicle movement from established SLF zones in the east. The I-70/I-71 interchange is one of the most critical freight nodes in the Midwest, connecting Franklin County to established Pennsylvania infestation zones to the east and channeling potential spread westward through central Ohio.
Highest activity zones
SLF Hotspots in Franklin County, OH
The Ohio State University campus (largest single-campus university in US)
Active zone
I-70/I-71 major interchange — Columbus urban core
Active zone
Scioto River corridor through downtown Columbus
Active zone
John Glenn Columbus International Airport perimeter
Active zone
Alum Creek State Park and reservoir area
Active zone
Primary SLF food source
Tree of Heaven in Franklin County, OH
Tree of Heaven is present along the Scioto River corridor and road margins throughout Franklin County, providing natural SLF dispersal pathways through the Columbus urban core. The Ohio State University campus edges and the I-70/I-71 corridor have Ailanthus colonization in disturbed margins that support SLF establishment potential across this high-traffic landscape. Alum Creek State Park access roads and the Scioto Greenways trail system are priority monitoring zones as SLF populations advance through central Ohio's most densely populated county.
Identify Tree of Heaven →Local action resources
What To Do in Franklin County, OH
Report a Sighting
Every sighting in Franklin County, OH maps the invasion front. Report directly to Ohio Department 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 Ohio State Guide
County-level data, quarantine zones, treatment guides, and agency resources for the entire state.
See the full Ohio guide →Community intelligence
Live Sighting Map
See where SLF has been spotted near you in Franklin County, OH. Add your own sighting to help map the front.
Open the Map →Free weekly fight briefing
Fight SLF in Franklin County, OH.
One email per week. Your zip code. Your threat level. Your action plan. Know exactly what to do this week in Franklin County, OH.