Since it came to the US from China in 2014, the lanternfly has been destroying plants and animals. It is a tiny bug with a big appetite for destruction. Bugs like this one feed on plant sap, which weakens trees and plants and makes them more likely to get diseases and other pests. It makes honeydew that is sticky and helps sooty mould grow. This mould can stop photosynthesis and put our green spaces at risk of dying.
It’s not too hard to tell lanternflies apart. The adults’ wings are grey with black spots, and the underwings are red and black. The underwings are about an inch long.
Nymphs, on the other hand, are born with black bodies and white spots that turn red before they grow up. Their mouths are shaped like needles, so they can cut plants and drink sap, which takes away the plants’ life force.
If you see a lanternfly, you need to act quickly. If you see an adult or nymph, squash it. To kill egg masses, scratch them into a bag with hand sanitiser or alcohol.
There is a fight going on right now to save our environments and the Earth. Remember that even though the lanternfly is small, it is a big threat to our world, and we need to work together to lessen its effects.
