Spotted Lanternfly inKent County, DESPOTTED LANTERNFLY GUIDE
Kent County is the geographic center of Delaware — confirmed for SLF in 2018, with Dover as the state capital and county seat. Dover Air Force Base, one of the largest military air transport installations in the United States and home to the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations, occupies a substantial footprint in the county and represents a significant monitoring challenge: the base's restricted-access grounds, combined with constant military aircraft and vehicle traffic from across the country and world, create ongoing SLF introduction and reservoir risk. Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge — one of the largest tidal salt marshes on the East Coast — adds ecological sensitivity to the county's SLF monitoring landscape. The US-13 corridor connecting Kent and Sussex counties is a primary SLF spread vector through Delaware's agricultural heartland.
Highest activity zones
SLF Hotspots in Kent County, DE
Dover Air Force Base (major military transport hub)
Active zone
Dover downtown US-13 corridor
Active zone
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge edges
Active zone
US-13 Kent/Sussex agricultural corridor
Active zone
Murderkill River watershed margins
Active zone
Primary SLF food source
Tree of Heaven in Kent County, DE
Tree of Heaven is established along the US-13 corridor and road margins throughout Kent County, creating SLF dispersal pathways from the established New Castle County populations southward through Dover and into the agricultural interior. Dover Air Force Base fence-line and buffer zone margins are a priority monitoring concern — Ailanthus can colonize restricted military grounds adjacent to constant high-volume transport operations. Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge edges and the Murderkill River watershed margins are additional monitoring zones as SLF populations continue to advance through this central Delaware agricultural landscape.
Identify Tree of Heaven →Local action resources
What To Do in Kent County, DE
Report a Sighting
Every sighting in Kent County, DE maps the invasion front. Report directly to Delaware 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 DE State Guide
County-level data, quarantine zones, treatment guides, and agency resources for the entire state.
See the full DE guide →Community intelligence
Live Sighting Map
See where SLF has been spotted near you in Kent County, DE. Add your own sighting to help map the front.
Open the Map →Free weekly fight briefing
Fight SLF in Kent County, DE.
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