Spotted Lanternfly inJefferson County, KYSPOTTED LANTERNFLY GUIDE
Jefferson County — home to Louisville, the largest city in Kentucky — confirmed spotted lanternfly in 2022 as populations pushed west from Ohio River border crossings and along I-64 freight corridors. Louisville's position as a major interstate hub connecting I-64, I-65, and I-71 makes Jefferson County a critical node for SLF spread into the broader mid-South region. Bourbon warehouses, commercial nurseries, and urban parks across the county face growing pressure from expanding populations. The Ohio River banks and railroad lines threading through the city's industrial west end provide ideal habitat corridors for rapid movement.
Highest activity zones
SLF Hotspots in Jefferson County, KY
Downtown Louisville
Active zone
Shively
Active zone
St. Matthews
Active zone
Jeffersontown
Active zone
Valley Station
Active zone
Primary SLF food source
Tree of Heaven in Jefferson County, KY
Tree of Heaven is established along I-64 and I-65 rights-of-way through Jefferson County, as well as along Ohio River bank margins and railroad corridors in the industrial west end of Louisville. ToH stands in Shively, Valley Station, and along the Louisville and Nashville Railroad lines are priority surveillance zones for early nymph and egg-mass detections.
Identify Tree of Heaven →Local action resources
What To Do in Jefferson County, KY
Report a Sighting
Every sighting in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, KY. Add your own sighting to help map the front.
Open the Map →Free weekly fight briefing
Fight SLF in Jefferson County, KY.
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