The Terrestrial Invasive Species Participatory Science (TIPS) program invites volunteers in Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Olmsted, Wabasha and Winona counties of Minnesota to help survey for spotted lanternfly and key host plants: round leaf bittersweet, common hops, riverbank grape, black walnut and butternut.
Spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect which primarily uses tree-of-heaven and grapes as host plants. Tree-of-heaven is not widely present in Minnesota, and it is possible that spotted lanternfly would not thrive in Minnesota without this important host.