The city of Hartford has spent years trying to attract more activity to downtown. In recent days, it has seen an influx of visitors — just not the kind city officials have been looking for.
Recent walks through downtown Tuesday and Wednesday found large numbers of spotted lanternflies congregating around the bases of office buildings, including CityPlace I and the Gold Building. Pedestrians could be seen stomping on the invasive insects, while other lanternflies flew around the sidewalks and occasionally landed on people’s clothing.
The sightings come as reports of spotted lanternflies in Hartford have more than doubled from last year, according to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
As of Aug. 19, the agency had received 560 reports through its online reporting system from Hartford, compared with 238 during all of 2025, State Entomologist Jacob Ricker said.
Still, Ricker cautioned against interpreting those numbers as evidence that Hartford has become a particular hotspot.
“Current observations do not show Hartford as more infested than other municipalities, but we haven’t looked at that specifically,” Ricker said.
The agency has received similar reports from Milford, New Haven, Stratford, Norwich, Bridgeport and Rocky Hill, he said. Hartford’s relatively dense population also means there are more potential observers, and the data may include duplicate sightings.
So far, Ricker said, the insects have largely been a nuisance in Connecticut rather than a significant threat to established trees and landscaping.
They do, however, remain a potential threat to grape and fruit-tree growers.
One reason large numbers can develop in a particular area is the presence of tree of heaven, an invasive tree that is a preferred host for spotted lanternflies.
Ricker said property owners dealing with the insects should identify and address tree of heaven on their properties. Studies have shown spotted lanternflies that feed on the trees can produce more egg masses and stronger nymphs, he said.
For people encountering individual lanternflies, one of the simplest control methods is also the one some downtown Hartford pedestrians have already adopted: stomping on them.
Property owners can also scrape and destroy spotted lanternfly egg masses.
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station has been collecting spotted lanternfly reports since 2020 and is conducting research into the insect. Ricker’s office also oversees surveying, reporting, inspections and quarantines related to spotted lanternflies and other invasive pests.
It remains unclear whether Hartford or Connecticut has reached peak spotted lanternfly populations.
Ricker said states that have dealt with the insect longer eventually have experienced declines, but there is no clear timetable for when that will happen here.
“Time is the decider, and that is why the online reports are so valuable to us,” Ricker said. “With this information, we are able to more clearly show what’s happening with SLF in CT.”
