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Get your bug-stomping shoes on.
In areas of the Northeast where the colorful but invasive spotted lanternfly is emerging, killing season has arrived. The next generation of the plant-hopping and crop-destroying pest has hatched in 16 states across the northeastern U.S.
The invasive bugs can wreak havoc on plants and trees and could eventually threaten the American wine industry as they develop into vibrant moth-like insects.
The spotted lanternfly, which actually doesn’t fly but is a leaf-hopping insect, is believed to have arrived in the U.S. on a stone shipment from China in 2012, according to the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program at Cornell University in Ithaca.
What does the invasive spotted lanternfly look like?
The life cycle of the spotted lanternfly begins in mid-spring. They are closely related to the cicadas family and primarily live in trees.
The insects consume the sap of up to 70 different plant species during their life cycle, particularly fruit trees. As they eat, they release a sticky, sugary substance called honeydew that increases the growth of mold and attracts wasps and ants. Too much of the bugs’ feeding can weaken the tree and ultimately cause it to die.
Northeast states are being invaded
Two-thirds of Pennsylvania’s counties are in a quarantine zone, meaning many transportation-based businesses must get a special permit, which is earned after employees are trained to spot the insects and not to transport them elsewhere.
People who carry contaminated materials or products containing egg masses can transmit spotted lanternflies across long distances.
The spotted lanternfly is a threat to the wine industry
There’s reason to worry about the arrival of the spotted lanternfly in states rich in wine production, such as California, New York, Oregon and Washington. A study published in the journal Communications Biology predicts the spotted lanternfly could reach grape-producing counties in California as early as 2027 but probably by 2033.
It’s not just grapes at risk, according to a study by researchers at North Carolina State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The study points to crops such as apples, almonds, walnuts, cherries, hops and peaches.
If you spot a lanternfly, smash it!
Experts recommend you kill the insects when you see them, then report them to your state’s Department of Agriculture. The sooner authorities know about a infestation, the higher chances it can be controlled. There are various ways to kill them, including building a trap, as shown by Pennsylvania state officials in an online video. For information on approved insecticides and how to scrape egg masses, visit the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program site.
CONTRIBUTING Mike Snider and Scott Fallon, USA TODAY
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