Spotted Lanternfly inWake County, NCSPOTTED LANTERNFLY GUIDE

Wake County — home to Raleigh, the North Carolina state capital — entered the SLF watch zone in 2023 as populations advanced south along the I-95 corridor from established Mid-Atlantic infestation zones. The Raleigh metro area is one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States, with explosive population growth concentrated around Research Triangle Park — a globally significant technology and research hub whose dense campus environment, extensive landscaping, and high volume of interstate freight create substantial SLF spread risk. RDU International Airport handles major cargo volumes connecting the Triangle to infested regions to the north. NC State University's Centennial Campus and the Jordan Lake watershed are priority monitoring zones as SLF advances into this critical North Carolina watch zone.