October 2022
A new threat to forestation, Lycroma, more commonly known as the Spotted Lanternfly. Indigenous to China these dangerous plant-hoppers have reached serious levels of infestation in South Korea, Japan, and the U.S.
Adult spotted lantern-fly
Spotted lanternfly egg mass
The USDA APHIS advocates ways you can help out to eliminate this infestation starting from the root they recommend that when preparing for the winter holidays, check outdoor items for spotted lanternfly egg masses, including items you bring indoors. Scrape any egg masses into a plastic zippered bag filled with hand sanitizer, then zip the bag shut and dispose of it properly.
Remember to Inspect your trees and plants for signs of this pest, particularly at dusk and at night when the insects tend to gather in large groups on the trunks or stems of plants. Inspect trees (in particular, trees of heaven), bricks, stone, and other smooth surfaces for egg masses.
Though in my opinion, these bugs are absolutely gorgeous and I would hate for them to be killed, they are a danger to the already dwindling tree population along with food supply, such as grapes, peaches, almonds, apricots, apples, cherries, and many more. These majestic insects are true pests and need to be dealt with. So, if you ever see this beautiful bug, give it a squash, be an ally of the earth!
Juvenile spotted lantern-fly