The "The Tale Of The Unwanted Spotted Lanternfly" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Learned something today that I never knew until a few minutes ago.  Learned that the spotted lanternfly, that has become such a nusiance and are extremely destructive, may be even worst this year than they were last year, were introduced into the United States a bit over 35 miles from Lancaster County.  

A spotted lanternfly with it's wings closed

The spotted lanternflies were first discovered in nearby Berks County in 2014.  It is believed that the bugs arrived there by piggy-backing on a cargo shipment that originated somewhere in East Asia which is supposedly their native habitat.  The lanternflies are normally kept in check by natural predators, but these predators are not found in Lancaster or Berks County.  There is some hope that a change may be coming soon, since Penn State University researchers have been working on a natural predator and have found that preying mantises and chickens have been seen eating the destructive bugs.  I reported that information to my wife and she is now planning or a chicken coup in the back yard.  Not!  Lancaster County farmers, many of them being Amish farmers, fear they will lose their crops since the spotted lanterflies feed on plants.  But, Penn State is now working on a solution to help the farmers in Lancaster, as well as surrounding counties, find a way to eliminate the lanternflies.  Those farmers who have vineyards have been hit the hardest since the spotted lanternflies feed on the grape vines.  They also seem to gravitate toward woodlands, where they can find their preferred host plants - tree of heaven, black walnut and maple trees.  

The spotted lanternfly with it's wings extended.  It is a beautiful insect.

But, new pesticides are being formulated for the vineyards that will, or should I say may,  help control the pests.  The lanternflies were said to have survived the winter since the temperature didn't drop low enough for a long enough period of time to kill the lantern flies eggs.  The eggs began to hatch in May and live out their first few months as nymphs before reaching adulthood in midsummer when they would become destructive due to the fact that they only grow wings as adults.  They then would begin their excessive and destructive eating until they lay their eggs and complete their life cycle.  Some local scientists as well as farmers say they have found fewer egg masses this spring, but is that misleading?  Perhaps they are just high enough in the trees so they can't be seen.  

A young spotted lanternfly.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has announced an expansion of the quarantine zone to more counties in hope of confining the lanternflies.  The quarantine area now comprises 34 counties throughout the state.  Hopes are running high that Penn State researchers can help in the control of the destructive spotted lanternflies.  The longer they remain in the area, the more likely the scientists can find a way to control them if not eradicate them.  I hope the lanternflies can be eliminated in the near future, but do think they are a very interesting and colorful insect.  Too bad they have to be such a nusiance.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The spotted lanternflies are hard to find on trees.