In Madison, Ohio, one of the state's most fertile grape-producing regions, Debonné Vineyards faces a looming threat: the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). This invasive insect, first detected in the U.S. in 2014, has already crippled vineyards in Pennsylvania, and Ohio growers fear a similar fate.

"We have at any time about half a million dollars of growing grapes out here on the trellis as we get into harvest," said Gene Sigel, vineyard manager at Debonné Vineyards, one of Ohio's largest and most established wineries. Sigel, who has grown grapes in Ohio for over three decades, has closely followed the lanternfly's rise.

Originally from Asia, the lanternfly has spread rapidly across the eastern U.S., especially along transportation corridors. The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) has described them as "hitchhiker insects" because they travel by clinging to vehicles, including cars, trains, buses, and trucks.

"They'll take a ride," said ODA Director Brian Baldridge. "We know that's how they kind of work their way around Ohio."

The insect's preferred host is the grapevine, though it also feeds on tree of heaven, maples, and other hardwoods. Spotted lanternflies suck sap from plants and excrete honeydew, a sticky substance that promotes sooty mold growth, blocking photosynthesis and killing vines.

In Pennsylvania, entire vineyard harvests were lost. "It was debilitating, if not horrifying, for growers in that area," said Sigel. "Some vineyards never came back."

While Ohio has yet to report significant crop damage, the threat is real. Counties like Cuyahoga have already been placed under quarantine, requiring permits to move plant products in or out. The ODA has implemented DNA monitoring with researchers from Ohio State University, who use smear tests to detect traces of lanternfly presence.

Sigel reports that while DNA from the insect has been found in the Grand River Valley, no live insects have been observed on his property-yet. Still, he's not taking chances.

"The lanternfly couldn't be a more serious issue for me personally as a farmer, but also for the quality of grapes we grow here in Ohio," he said. "Your inventory of all your products are really just sitting out there... at the mercy of these insects."

Baldridge emphasizes the importance of public vigilance. The ODA encourages vehicle inspections before traveling across counties and educating the public on identification and prevention. However, he admits eradication is unlikely: "Once they are here, they are probably here to stay."

The next few months will be critical. If Ohio growers can contain the spread, the industry may avoid the catastrophic losses seen elsewhere. But time is short, and the stakes are high.