Last week’s puzzler is a pretty famous insect called a spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula. I bet now that I’ve said the name, you might recognize it and remember hearing stories about it. It is a an invasive insect that originates in China. It was first discovered here in the United States in 2014, in Pennsylvania, though scientists suspect it had been present longer, just unnoticed.
This insect is not actually a fly, but rather a kind of insect called a leaf hopper. These insects hang out on the trunks of trees and if disturbed, will jump great distances. I was shocked to see how far one of these small insects could leap!
The spotted lantern fly is a threat to many fruit crops and trees. It has already been seen in 17 states.
The campaign in most states on this insect is ”
See it, Squash it, Report it.”
Authorities want people to kill any of these insects when you see them because of the threat they pose to crops and trees.
According to the US Department of Agriculture, the following crops/trees are at risk:
- Almonds
- Apples
- Apricots
- Cherries
- Grapes
- Hops
- Maple Trees
- Nectarines
- Oak Trees
- Peaches
- Pine Trees
- Plums
- Poplar Trees
- Sycamore Trees
- Walnut Trees
- Willow Trees
They are especially worried about the damage these insects can do to an entire apple orchard, such as in NY, NC, or other states that grow apples.
Here’s how to report a spotted lanternfly, if you see one near you.