The Eco-Fact of the Week by the Environmental Club - Week of September 20, 2021
WANTED: SPOTTED LANTERNFLY
While these spotted lanternflies may have pretty designs on their wings, don’t be fooled! IF YOU SEE ONE, KILL IT! It is actually an invasive species from Asia, more specifically China, that sucks the saps of more than 70 plant species, leaving the plants weak, susceptible to diseases and attacks from other insects. In addition, they also secrete honeydew, a sticky substance, that allows sooty mold (a fungi) to coat the plant, affecting photosynthesis. Furthermore, these flies are known to be hitchhikers meaning they lay eggs on smooth and hard surfaces such as vehicles, bricks, and stones, which can cause these insects to spread easily. Be sure to check your cars and shake your clothes once in a while otherwise you might find an entire family living in close proximity to you! Ways to help limit the spread of this invasive insect is to inspect trees as you walk by them, especially during dusk and the night as this is when you find them hanging around the trunks or stems of plants. If you spot any egg masses, feel free to scrape them into a ziplock bag full of hand sanitizer to prevent the next generation from being born. That’s all we have to say so stay on the lookout!
