The lanternfly, also known as Lycorma delicatula, is an insect you should get rid of as soon as you see it.
It came from China and was first spotted in Pennsylvania, USA, in 2014.
Since then, it has spread and caused serious damage to agriculture and nature.
Lanternflies suck sap from many plants and trees, which weakens them.
They also leave behind a sticky substance called honeydew, which leads to sooty mold. This mold harms plants by blocking sunlight, making it hard for them to grow.
Lanternflies are easy to spot. The adults are about an inch long with gray wings that have black spots and red and black underwings.
Nymphs start off black with white spots and turn red as they grow. They use a needle-like mouthpart to pierce plants and suck out the sap, which weakens the plant. If you see a lanternfly, it’s important to get rid of it right away.
You can squash the adults or nymphs directly. It’s also important to destroy their egg masses, which look like gray mud smears. Scrape these into a bag with alcohol or hand sanitizer to kill the eggs. Taking action against lanternflies helps protect our plants and environment. If you spot one, remember the damage they can cause and act quickly to keep our ecosystems healthy.