Spotted Lanternfly Circle Traps: How-to Guide

On March 3, 2026, we held our firstever Spotted Lanternfly Circle Trap DIY Class at our office! Participants learned about Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) and made a Circle Trap of their very own to catch SLF nymphs this spring after they hatch.

​Class attendees left feeling excited and motivated to catch as many SLF as they could in order to assist with the infestation that is ongoing throughout Lucas County and all of Ohio. Below are some management timing and strategies we discussed during the class. 

How-to Guide: SLF Circle Traps

For those of you not able to attend the class, we wanted to make the information available to you so that you could make your own SLF Circle Trap at home using mostly household products. The photos and information listed below are derived from resources available via the Ohio Department of Agriculture and Penn State Extension. 

If you are wondering why the circle traps are effective, the reason is because SLF has predictable behavior that researchers have idenitified! The SLF nymphs are easily blown out of the tree canopy after they hatch in spring (usually starting in May). They then walk back to the trunk of the tree and climb back up to start feeding again. On their way back up, they walk right into the trap and cannot escape! Another caveat is that there are many ways to make a SLF trap -- this is how we decided to make ours. Make modifications as you see fit. 

**Modifed from the Penn State Extension How-to Guide**

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Once the bag is full or needs emptied, open the ziploc and empty into a trashcan (only if all are dead!) or into a bucket of soapy water to seal their fate. Then, simply, rezip the bag back up or replace it if necessary. 

In February 2026, the Ohio Department of Agriculture listed every County in the state as under a "quarantine" for Spotted Lanternfly. What this means is that prior to moving anything noncommercial out of the state, (i.e. going camping this summer), you need to check your outdoor furniture, grills, etc. for eggs, nymphs, or adult SLF. ODA created a quarantine checklist that can be found online as well as a management guide for SLF. 

ODA Management Guide

Quarantine Checklist

Contact us with questions! (419) 893-1966
​Also, let us know how your trap(s) perform at catching SLF :)

Jessica Grisier, [email protected]

​Penny Bollin, [email protected]