Spotted Lanternfly inSussex County, DESPOTTED LANTERNFLY GUIDE
Sussex County is Delaware's southernmost county — confirmed for SLF in 2018 and now facing active spread across a landscape defined by coastal resort tourism, concentrated poultry industry, and the Nanticoke River watershed. Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, and the Rehoboth-Lewes resort corridor drive enormous seasonal vehicle traffic from the Washington-Baltimore metro area and beyond, concentrating vehicles from established SLF infestation zones throughout the summer season. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal provides a direct spread corridor to New Jersey, moving vehicles and passengers between Delaware and the established Cape May County SLF zone. Georgetown, the county seat, anchors a poultry-dominant agricultural landscape where SLF feeding pressure on trees and ornamentals poses risk to farm operations throughout the region.
Highest activity zones
SLF Hotspots in Sussex County, DE
Rehoboth Beach / Dewey Beach resort seasonal traffic zones
Active zone
US-9 coastal corridor
Active zone
Nanticoke River watershed
Active zone
Georgetown area poultry industry farms
Active zone
Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal (NJ spread corridor)
Active zone
Primary SLF food source
Tree of Heaven in Sussex County, DE
Tree of Heaven is present along Sussex County's US-9 coastal corridor and road margins throughout the county's interior, providing SLF dispersal pathways from established northern Delaware populations southward into the resort and agricultural landscape. The Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach resort corridor parking areas and access roads are priority monitoring zones — vehicle traffic from established DC/Baltimore-area SLF infestation zones concentrates here throughout the summer tourism season. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal approach roads and Nanticoke River watershed margins are additional monitoring zones as this southernmost Delaware county faces active SLF spread across its most ecologically and economically significant landscapes.
Identify Tree of Heaven →Local action resources
What To Do in Sussex County, DE
Report a Sighting
Every sighting in Sussex 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 Sussex County, DE. Add your own sighting to help map the front.
Open the Map →Free weekly fight briefing
Fight SLF in Sussex County, DE.
One email per week. Your zip code. Your threat level. Your action plan. Know exactly what to do this week in Sussex County, DE.