CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - Iowa is asking people to be alert for an invasive insect spreading across the country that has been spotted in Iowa.

The spotted lanternfly is native to Asia but was unintentionally introduced into Pennsylvania in 2014. Since then, the destructive species has spread to 20 states, mostly through the movement of infested material containing its eggs.

In September, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship says someone in Des Moines County found a spotted lanternfly in an industrial area. The agency confirmed the insect was an adult spotted lantern fly.

The state has since surveyed the area and has not found any eggs or indications of an ongoing infestation.

If the spotted lanternfly is able to spread into Iowa, it could impact agriculture and n

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