THEY ARE HERE!!!! I’ve spotted several in my backyard. We were all warned that if we notice even ONE of them, we should immediately get rid of them! No second thoughts. Make sure you know this information before you encounter these insects 👇

Most of us don’t think much about insects, but some can cause serious harm. One such insect is the spotted lanternfly, first seen in Pennsylvania in 2014 after arriving from China. It’s invasive and highly destructive to agriculture and local ecosystems.

Lanternflies feed on tree and plant sap, weakening them and promoting mold growth. Over time, this can kill the plants. They use a needle-like mouthpart to drain sap, essentially stealing the plant’s life force.

They’re easy to spot: nymphs are black with white spots, turning red as they mature. Adults have gray wings with black spots and red underwings and are about an inch long.

If you see one, the best thing to do is kill it. They’re easy to squash, and egg masses—mud-like smears—can be scraped into a bag with hand sanitizer. While it may seem harsh, removing them helps protect the environment from serious damage.