Officials Warn The Eastern U.S. To Brace For The Devastating Lanternfly This Spring

Some people think that insects are annoying, scary, and gross. However, even people who aren’t fans of the creepy crawlers have to admit that they play a critical role in our natural world whether they like it or not.

Some insects, however, can be more destructive than helpful. When insects from one country are accidentally sent to another the ramifications can be absolutely awful. That’s why the arrival of the lanternfly on US shores is such a huge problem.

When a shipment of stone from China arrived in Pennsylvania, no one knew that it contained lanternfly larva. Nor did they know that these hungry pests would soon eat their way through Pennsylvania and make their way to Maryland and beyond.

It eats everything that grows and covers surfaces in a sticky goo. To make matters worse, the lanternfly reproduces insanely quickly, and in the United States, it doesn’t have any natural predators.

The lanternfly has five distinct developmental stages and it looks totally different in each one. That’s why it’s critical that if you see an insect that you don’t recognize and you think it could be a lanternfly that you contact local government immediately.

To make matters worse, these critters don’t just destroy crops, they also encourage other pests to do so. The sticky residue they leave behind after feeding attracts other insects to come and take advantage of the free grub.

To learn more about this bizarre insect and how it is spreading so quickly in this country, watch the video below. If you aren’t sure you’ve spotted one, you’re better safe than sorry!

These little bugs might look innocent but they are completely demolishing the incomes of farmers already. They need to be stopped and fast before it’s too late.

Share this warning with your friends below.