State Agricultural Officials Provide Update About Spotted Lanternfly

10:27AM / Thursday, August 28, 2025Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is informing the public that the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), an invasive insect, has now been confirmed in more than 50 cities and towns across nine different counties in the state.

MDAR is advising businesses and residents in affected areas to review SLF guidance strategies to manage this pest and prevent its further spread.

Spotted Lanternflies are not a threat to people or pets, as they do not sting or bite. They primarily feed on the sap of over 100 different types of plants. This time of year, spotted lanternflies are entering their adult stage, characterized by their gray wings with black spots and a set of red hindwings underneath. Residents are encouraged to watch for these insects, especially in areas with grapevines, tree-of-heaven, bittersweet, maple, or black walnut.

While spotted lanternflies can kill grapevines and small tree saplings, they generally pose minor risks to mature trees. The most noticeable impact is the sticky residue known as honeydew that they produce while feeding, which can be an inconvenience for outdoor activities including agritourism.

For those facing lanternfly issues at their residence or business, MDAR's SLF Management Guide offers practical solutions for dealing with this pest, containing advice about setting up traps, removing tree-of-heaven or other host plants, and details about state activities to slow the spread of SLF.

"With populations of spotted lanternfly expanding, we expect that more residents will start to see SLF activity at home or where they work," said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. "Because MDAR has limited resources for management, the agency is focusing on slowing the spread of this pest in areas where agriculture is most at risk, as well as locations where there are businesses at risk of accidentally spreading SLF to new areas."

Due to the volume of calls MDAR has been receiving this summer, if spotted lanternfly is found, MDAR is asking the public to first check this map to see if SLF has already been reported in the city or town. If SLF appears in a new location, please take a photo of the insect and visit mass.gov/slf to access the reporting form.

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

12:05PM / Wednesday, December 24, 2025

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.

This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.

The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.

DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.

"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths.

"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."

Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.

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