Step on them… again: the spotted lanternfly is back

They are back. the Spotted lanterns They returned.

As summer approaches and brisk, warm weather returns in parts of the United States, officials warn that warmer temperatures could help lantern eggs hatch earlier. Invasive species are known to cause destruction of a wide range of crops and plants. And again, its range is increasing.

“The numbers are increasing in some areas,” he said. Brian Achenour, Senior Associate Adjunct for Invasive Species at Cornell University. “In New York City, for example, we’re likely to see more this year. And they’re expanding into the Hudson Valley. We’re also seeing them as far south as North Carolina. And we’re worried about them expanding west. You know, it could affect crops like grapes. They’ve killed off some parts of the vineyards in Pennsylvania. And we especially want protection to the west where they can expand.”

Pennsylvania was where the original Chinese lantern fly first appeared in 2014. According to the US Department of Agriculture. Since then, the department says it has been spotted in 13 more states: Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia.

And they don’t fly themselves to all of those countries. Humans are unwittingly helping the lantern fly see more of the country, Ishinur told CBS News.

“I hate to say it, but it’s human-assisted,” said Ishinor. “So they travel in our cars and on trains, it seems, and abroad.”

The hardness and dull color of their egg masses, which the USDA describes as “mud-like,” help create new outbreaks.

“Their egg masses are laid in the fall. They’re in there now, they’re just starting to hatch. But they’re very resilient,” said Ishinur. “Those egg masses can take sub-zero temperatures, and if we take something with an egg mass in it and don’t notice it, you can see one there, it’s not very bright. It’s a light color and then fades to a gray color eventually. If this is on something It was outside and moved to a new place in the spring when it hatches, you might have a new infestation.”

And these new infections could have serious consequences for farmers, especially grape growers in vineyards.

“This really affects the grapes. Late in the season, those adult spotted lanternflies fly into the vineyards and are an insect that feeds on sap and can deplete the reserves in the grape plants,” Ishinor said. “So we’re particularly concerned in grape-producing areas, but it can be a nuisance wherever it happens, especially in large numbers and backyard trees.”

What to do if you see spotted pansies or their eggs?

• Report this to your local Department of Agriculture

• Scrape the egg masses into a zip-top plastic bag filled with hand sanitizer, then seal the bag and dispose of it properly

• Harden yourself, harden your core, and trample adult spotted lanterns until you die

That’s what the The USDA website says, Although not with a lot of pizza.

“Clumps of spotted lanternfly eggs are about an inch long and resemble a smear of mud. If found in an area known to have residents in the SLF, residents should crush and scrape them. Travelers passing through SLF quarantine areas should check their vehicles thoroughly, trailers, and even the clothes they wear to avoid accidentally moving spotted lanternflies from the quarantine area to a new location.”

Eshenaur also said that killing lanternflies is the best course of action, but if you’re using traps, you’ll need to take extra steps.

“We certainly don’t want to move them,” said Eshinur. “If you see them in a local area, it’s a good idea to kill them to prevent them from laying eggs that will emerge next year. But traps can be very effective and you can catch a lot with traps. However, with sticky traps we want to make sure we have something to cover that for when it lands Spotted lanternfly over there, woodpeckers are interested in that and there have been cases where birds have been captured unintentionally. So there are some traps. There is a round trap you can find info on the internet. And those sticky traps can be good, but we want to cover them with some kind of screens.” .

“If you find one of those egg clumps and scrape it, put it in a bag and put some rubbing alcohol in there, that will kill it.” “We certainly don’t want to move the egg masses,” Eshinor continued.

Signs of a spotted lanternfly infestation include plants that ooze or weep and have a fermenting odor, a buildup of sticky liquid or dew on the plants and on the ground under infected plants, and sooty mold on infected plants.

If you’re in a state outside the stone lantern spotted area and see a pest, the USDA says you should take a photo of it and note the location to report it to the state’s Department of Agriculture before killing it.