A vibrant, yet menacing insect with striking red and black wings, silently infiltrates the local Milford community. The invasive lanternfly is a formidable adversary to the environment. As it spreads, relentlessly, it leaves behind a path of destruction, decimating crops and threatening native plant species, turning lush landscapes into battlegrounds of survival.
In recent years, the invasive lanternfly has become a significant threat to ecosystems and agriculture across the United States. Originating from Asia, this pest has rapidly spread, causing extensive damage to crops and plants. They are suspected to have traveled over – either as larvae or eggs on shipments of goods. They were first seen in Pennsylvania and have slowly made their way up the coast.
With its striking appearance and destructive feeding habits, the lanternfly poses a serious challenge to farmers and conservationists alike, prompting urgent measures to control its spread and mitigate its impact.
In recent news, CT.Gov says, “Kill any spotted lanternflies you find immediately,” and many people have been actively doing that. The art teacher at Foran, Mrs. Plude, says that she has been seeing these bugs since last year. She says that when she sees the bugs she tries to kill them but that her four-year-old usually spots them before she does. Plude says, “I find it very crazy that he is more aware of them than I am. Even he knows the importance of eradicating them.”
Plude goes on to say that her son knowing the seriousness of killing these bugs when they are seen shows how substantial of an issue to our environment they are. When the spotted lanternfly feeds on the plants in the ecosystem such as black walnut, maple, willow, river birch, and cherry trees, it excretes a sticky, sugary fluid that causes sooty mold, further damaging the plants. As the lanternfly population grows, it kills vegetation, which serves as nutrients for many animals. This is then affecting many other species. Therefore knocking the ecosystem out of balance because the food chain is disrupted.
Sidewalks surrounding Milford have been painted with the casualties of these red invaders. Mariska Sneed, a senior at Foran, says, “I see their lifeless bodies squished on the pavement almost everywhere I go.”
It is found that the best way to get rid of these invaders is to kill them when they are seen. Some of the best ways to get rid of them include stepping on them if they’re nymphs or adults. The science teacher at Foran, Mrs. Jackson says “There’s also the ability to use a water bottle or Gatorade bottle without a cap, put it behind them and they’ll end up jumping in without escape. You can then cap it and let them die (albeit slowly)”.
Jackson also says how it is not only important to kill the fully grown lantern flys but as well as starting directly at their egg sacs. Each sac holds about 30-50 eggs and they tend to start laying between September and January. For getting rid of egg sacs Jackson says, “it’s suggested that you use something like a credit card (approximate thickness/sturdiness) and run it over the egg sac/mass to kill them and prevent the spread”.
The spread of lanternflies poses a significant threat to our ecosystems and agricultural industries. Their rapid reproduction and lack of natural predators make them a formidable invasive species. The community must stay informed and take proactive measures to manage and mitigate their impact.
