Spotted Lanterflies Spreading In The US
Spotted Lanternflies are spreading across the Unites States. Recent reports indicate the bugs have now settled in New York, Canada, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, and now, are migrating to the Midwest.
They first appeared in Pennsylvania in 2014. They are not dangerous to humans or pets but do pose a serious risk to agriculture.
People can get sticky traps to help catch them but officials say the public needs to also change habits so that the bugs’ eggs don’t get transported.
Consumers should buy firewood from local sources and burn it all before eggs have a chance to hatch in May. People should also avoid parking their vehicles under trees or near bushes where the insects can lay eggs or stow away.
Many states are urging the public to kill them on sight.
The spotted lanternfly, an invasive species, has settled in states across the U.S. and poses a serious risk to agriculture. New York wineries alone risk losing millions of dollars from their wrath.https://t.co/jOjHpB5RF3
— NPR (@NPR) August 18, 2022
