Most of us barely glance at an insect before moving on. But sometimes, these tiny creatures can unleash massive consequences—for people, agriculture, and the environment.
Back in 2014, Pennsylvania encountered an unexpected visitor from China: a striking yet destructive new insect. Since then, it has wreaked havoc on crops and disrupted local ecosystems, leaving a trail of damage in its wake.
The spotted lanternfly isn’t just another bug—it’s an invasive pest that poses a serious threat and should be eliminated on sight.
Unlike native insects that often support the environment, the lanternfly is a foreign invader from Asia, first spotted in Pennsylvania in 2014. Since then, it has caused significant damage to agriculture and native ecosystems across the United States.
Lanternflies target trees and plants by feeding on their sap. But that’s just the beginning. As they feed, they excrete a sticky fluid that promotes the growth of sooty mold—a fungus that coats leaves, blocks sunlight, and disrupts photosynthesis. Over time, this weakens and can even kill the plant.
Fortunately, they’re easy to identify. The immature nymphs are black with white spots, turning red as they grow. Adults are about an inch long, with gray wings covered in black spots and striking red-and-black underwings.
Spot one? Act fast. This is one bug you don’t want to ignore.
The lanternfly feeds in a truly destructive way—using a needle-like mouthpart to pierce plants and drain their sap. In effect, it’s siphoning off the plant’s life force, slowly starving it of the nutrients it needs to survive.
When you spot a lanternfly, the best thing to do is simple: kill it. Fortunately, they’re not hard to eliminate. Whether it’s a hopping nymph or a full-grown adult, a firm stomp usually does the trick. If you come across an egg mass—often resembling a smear of dried mud—you can scrape it off and drop it into a sealed bag with hand sanitizer to destroy the eggs before they hatch.
It might feel harsh to kill an insect, but in this case, it’s an act of environmental protection. Left unchecked, lanternflies can cause devastating harm to trees, crops, and ecosystems. Stopping them is not just helpful—it’s necessary.
