If you live on the east coast, you’ve likely seen flyers instructing you to report and kill a spotted red and black insect. While this is a recent issue, it stems all the way back to 2012 when the Spotted Lanternfly somehow found its way from China to the U.S. The insect may seem harmless, but don’t be fooled by its size or beauty. The Lanternfly has been slowly destroying our environment for almost a decade now.
The biggest question people have asked is “how did it even get here?” and the answer to that is a somewhat strange one. It’s believed that the Lanternfly arrived here on a stone shipment. They started out as egg masses and hatched into nymphs before spreading through the east coast. People only found out about the insect a couple years after it first came here. Berks County, Pennsylvania, was the first identification of the Lanternfly on the coast in 2014, two whole years after their migration from Asia. Since then, spotted Lanternflies spread into the rest of the central east coast, destroying trees from July to December when in their adult phases. During the rest of the year, they aren’t as common or deadly considering they are nymphs that don’t yet have wings.
Regardless, it’s important to kill them when they’re seen. Some people wonder why they hurt the environment here so much, and here’s the reason. In Asia, the Lanternfly has natural predators that keep its population under control. They don’t have an over infestation of them because they’re native there. But coming here, there aren’t any animals that commonly eat them. They go about their lives drinking the life out of trees, leaving behind a sort of dew that causes mold and attracts other insects. There isn’t anything to interrupt their constant feasting, and this has left an opening for overpopulation. Because of this, it’s up to people to report if they’ve seen them, and to kill them.
Thankfully, there are many solutions to this infestation. Spotted Lanternflies leave grayish egg sacks that are covered by a waxy substance. People are advised to scrape the eggs off of any surfaces, whether that be trees, vehicles, or any other structure. One of the biggest things that this insect is attracted to is the tree of heaven. While this tree is quite beautiful, it is invasive and attracts Lanternflies to no end. A solution to the Lanternfly problem may be cutting down these trees so they no longer feed these insects. While it’s a difficult task, and people typically don’t like destroying nature, it may have to be done.
Something to note until a long term solution is decided: Lanternflies do not do well against vinegar, and it kills them instantly. Essential oils like Lavender, peppermint, or tea tree oil are also good against this species. So if you see any egg sacks, nymphs, or adult lanternflies, it’s important to kill them and report them. Afterwards, spraying one of the oils or vinegar on surfaces could help deter them and weaken their population. In conclusion, ridding of these pests will protect our natural environment which in turn will benefit the health of all living things.
