By Marissa Jacobs ‘25 and Noga Arieh ‘25 A new invasive species is spreading across the United States: the spotted lanternfly. Native to China and first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014, the lanternfly likely traveled to America via human cargo networks. Since its initial discovery, it has spread to many other East Coast states, including New Jersey. Characteristics of the spotted lanternfly include gray forewings with black spots, and red and black hind wings. Lanternfly adults are typically weaker fliers, yet much more powerful jumpers.
Though there is no evidence that the spotted lanternfly directly harms humans or animals, it is a major threat to trees and crops. The lanternfly is unique in that it sucks sap from over 70 different plant species, killing a diverse range of plants. The insect also excretes the sap, which can accumulate and promote the growth of fungi and other dangerous substances that threaten agricultural life. “I see lanternflies everywhere,” said senior Izzi Zellan. “In my yard, we have this tape to catch them and it is just layers of lanternflies at this point on the trees and it is really bad. If I see one, I stomp it immediately. I hate them.” The sudden influx of spotted lanternflies has grown so much that it is no longer useful for residents to report individual sightings of the insect, as dictated by standard infestation procedure. As proactive citizens, the best ways to lessen the number of lanternflies are to crush the bugs, wrap an infested tree with sticky paper to trap the insects or capture them in a bottle. Entomologists have found that if one places a bottle in front of the bug's face, it will jump in, as a lanternfly's natural response to being threatened is to jump. Female lanternflies lay eggs from September through November and most become adults by August of the next year. The generation of lanternflies usually dies by early winter and reappears when hatching in May. The life expectancy of the insect is one year unless it is squashed or killed. “It is spreading like a wildfire, so it is pretty concerning,” says Josephine Antwi, professor of Biology at the University of Mary Washington. “If you stomp on one, you are potentially stomping on about 30 to 50 individuals next year that would otherwise hatch out from an egg,” she said. GOA students have been hard at work killing these bugs as they descended upon the Upper School campus, some even approaching the task with joy and humor. Sophomore Jesse Schiffman jokes, “I always make sure to do everything in my ability to kill them, preferably as violently as possible, because they deserve to pay for their sins.” While he says this jokingly, the sentiment that it is better for the environment if we lessen them is shared by many in the community.
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December 2023
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