Knowledgebase
Reporting ailanthus #872227
Asked June 08, 2024, 8:03 PM EDT
Hamilton County Ohio
Expert Response
Reporting the occurrence of Ailanthus trees (tree of heaven) is not required because they are so widespread throughout Greater Cincinnati and the rest of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. The trees don't carry parasites, but they are a host for the non-native spotted lanternfly (SLF). However, the vast majority of our tree of heaven don't have SLF. So far, the infestations are very spotty in our region.
On the other hand, if you find SLF on a tree of heaven, you should report it to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. So you're reporting the insect, not the tree. Here is the ODA website that shows you what SLF looks like and where you'd report it:
https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/plant-health/invasive-pests/invasive-insects/slf