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Some Maryland counties have found themselves under attack by an invasive species that has grown exponentially over the years.

The spotted lanternfly has showed up in huge numbers this summer, swarming forests and people's homes.

The spotted lanternfly's first discovery in Maryland was in 2018, and now, it's seemingly out of control in a number of counties, according to the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Some are calling it an infestation as millions of lanternflies have appeared in a number of neighborhoods in Harford and Cecil counties, as well as Washington County in Western Maryland.

| LINK: Spotted lanternfly information from the Maryland Department of Agriculture

"If I were to show you the map right now about (what) resident reporting looks like online, it's just a blizzard of red points," said Kenton Sumpter, an entomologist with the Department of Agriculture and member of the state's spotted lanternfly team.

Sumpter told 11 News the lanternfly population has exploded over the past four years as they have migrated by hitching rides on trains, semi-trucks and cars.

Originating in eastern Asia and showing up in Maryland, it's believed the spotted lanternfly got to the U.S. in contaminated shipping containers.

"It is present throughout the entire Mid-Atlantic area, as far west is Indiana, as far south as North Carolina. It's spread, it's really taken off," Sumpter said.

The lanternflies mainly feed off another invasive species, the tree of heaven, known for its sugary sap. They excrete sugar water, which causes mold on forest floors and properties.

They don't currently seem to be posing too much of a problem for crops; however, some wineries are reporting lower yields in grapes.

"The primary problem with it is it's an agricultural pest. Luckily, what we found is that it's not attacking a ton of commodities. Our worries are still for vineyards, orchards and nurseries," Sumpter said.

They are, however, considered really annoying by getting on clothes, houses, cars and everything.

"They live in human communities, so they're the type of pest, like a mosquito, where you're at your house and they're jumping on you, they're getting in your way," Sumpter said. "Luckily, these don't bite, they don't stay, they don't transfer any pathogens. So, they're less bad than a mosquito."

While insecticides can be used to kill lanternflies, it's recommended to kill them by hands or by foot, and then report it to the state.

| REPORT THEM: Think you have found spotted lanternfly in Maryland?​ Report it here (Residents in Cecil or Harford counties are no longer required to report lanternfly sightings)

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