Spotted Lanternfly inOcean County, NJSPOTTED LANTERNFLY GUIDE

Ocean County is a major SLF concern not just for its own population centers, but for the ecological treasure it borders: the New Jersey Pine Barrens, the largest stretch of open land on the Mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. Confirmed in 2021, SLF populations have established across the county's suburban fringe and shore communities, with Toms River as county seat. The Jersey Shore tourism corridor drives enormous seasonal visitor traffic — and with it, the ongoing risk of spread from out-of-state vehicles arriving at Six Flags Great Adventure and the barrier island beach towns. The Barnegat Bay watershed adds additional ecological sensitivity to what is already a critical SLF monitoring zone.