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| The first lantern fly I saw. |
Has the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delictual) reached your area yet? They have made it to Maryland and seem to be everywhere. We see them on our porches, sidewalks, and yards; Wally and Theo's house is covered in them.
The spotted lanternfly (SLF) was first identified in the US in 2014 in Berks County, Pennslyvania. It is thought that it hitched a ride with a shipment of stone from China, where it is native. The SLF is turning out to be another non-native insect wreaking havoc with our crops. Think of the stink bug invasion in the 1990's and the damage it brought. Interestingly, the brown marmorated stink bug also came from Asia and was first identified in Pennsylvania.
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| Aren't the wings pretty? |
The SLF is very adaptable. Its preferred host plant is the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissimo), an invasive, noxious tree from China. (I guess the SLF and the tree of heaven are happy to be reunited.) But if there's no tree of heaven around, the SLF will lay its eggs on any solid object (rocks, cars, tree trunks, etc.), and the nymphs will eat whatever is nearby. It can associate with more than 173 plants and has been damaging fruit trees, soybeans, grapes, forest trees, and ornamentals, among other things.
I saw my first SPL in 2021 in Berks County, PA, where it was first found. I was charmed by its colorful wings and distinctive spots until I was informed they were dangerous to many of our crops. There have been quarantines and guidelines to kill them. In fact, Theo had to sign a paper at work saying that he would kill any he saw. They are a hopping insect and very quick, so squashing one is easier said than done. However, despite best efforts, the SLF is very adaptable and has been found in 17 states so far.
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| SLF on our porch. This is a closeup. They are about an inch (2.5 cm) long |
The good news is that in Berks County, where they first exploded, the numbers are down a little. Birds and some other creatures are starting to eat them. And researchers are desperately working on ways to control them.
So, if you happen to see a spotted lantern fly, don't be fooled by its good looks. Be afraid. Very afraid.* And then give it a good stomp.
Until next time...
*The SLF is not directly harmful to humans. It doesn't bite or sting. It's the hundreds of millions of dollars of damage it can do to agricultural crops that has everyone concerned.
Note: My computer crashed before I could retrieve the links to the several articles I used for this post. However, if you want to know more, just google spotted lanternfly.
