The lanternfly, or Lycorma delicatula, is an insect you should get rid of immediately if you spot it. Originating in China, it was first seen in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014. Since then, it has spread and caused significant agricultural and ecological damage. Lanternflies feed on the sap of many plants and trees, weakening them and causing sooty mold due to the sticky honeydew they excrete.
This mold further harms the plant by inhibiting photosynthesis. Lanternflies are easy to identify. Adults are about an inch long, with gray wings featuring black spots and red and black underwings. Nymphs are black with white spots, turning red before maturity. They use a needle-like mouthpart to pierce plants and suck out sap, draining the plant’s life energy. If you see a lanternfly, the recommended course of action is to eliminate it. You can squash the adults or nymphs directly.
