Spotted Lanternfly inWayne County, MISPOTTED LANTERNFLY GUIDE
Wayne County, home to Detroit and the most populous county in Michigan, confirmed spotted lanternfly in 2024. The county sits at the center of a massive interstate commerce corridor — I-75 links Detroit directly to Toledo, Ohio, and the I-75/I-94 interchange is one of the highest-traffic freight nodes in the Midwest. SLF egg masses hitchhiking on vehicles, shipping containers, and rail freight represent the primary introduction pathway into Detroit's post-industrial landscape. Michigan's fruit belt — a globally significant producer of apples, tart cherries, and wine grapes — lies to the north and west, making early containment in Wayne County critical to protecting the state's $1.5 billion agricultural economy. Urban Tree of Heaven thickets in River Rouge, Wyandotte, and along the I-75 service drive provide ideal overwintering habitat.
Highest activity zones
SLF Hotspots in Wayne County, MI
Detroit (I-75 corridor)
Active zone
Dearborn
Active zone
Wyandotte
Active zone
River Rouge
Active zone
Trenton
Active zone
Primary SLF food source
Tree of Heaven in Wayne County, MI
Tree of Heaven is pervasive throughout Wayne County's post-industrial corridor, with dense thickets along the Michigan Central rail line, CSX freight yards near River Rouge, and the I-75 service drive from Detroit south to Trenton. Vacant lots, highway embankments, and river margins along the Rouge and Detroit rivers harbor Ailanthus populations that serve as SLF staging habitat. MDARD prioritizes ToH removal near intermodal freight facilities and border crossing zones.
Identify Tree of Heaven →Local action resources
What To Do in Wayne County, MI
Report a Sighting
Every sighting in Wayne County, MI maps the invasion front. Report directly to Michigan Dept of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD).
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 MI State Guide
County-level data, quarantine zones, treatment guides, and agency resources for the entire state.
See the full MI guide →Community intelligence
Live Sighting Map
See where SLF has been spotted near you in Wayne County, MI. Add your own sighting to help map the front.
Open the Map →Free weekly fight briefing
Fight SLF in Wayne County, MI.
One email per week. Your zip code. Your threat level. Your action plan. Know exactly what to do this week in Wayne County, MI.