nearly a decade ago, the spotted lanternfly has migrated west and south and is now found in 14 states, according to the USDA: They'll hop on you." Where are spotted lanternflies found? "These insects are just all over the place, crawling on all the buildings. "You didn't have to read very long to realize that people's lives are being affected," he said. Spotted lanternflies also can just be flat-out annoying. Travis said there were complaints when they overtook New York City last year. The bugs also excrete a sugary substance called honeydew "that encourages the growth of black sooty mold," according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Honeydew isn't harmful to humans, but it damages plants and can leave the sticky substance on someone's outdoor gear. Spotted lanternflies could weaken a plant enough that it "just can't survive," Travis said. Travis said they feed on more than 70 types of plants, and they have been known to dine on grapes, affecting vineyards throughout the Northeast. Why is the spotted lanternfly bad?īesides striking fear in the hearts of people who don't like bugs, spotted lanternflies actually do harm plant life. Hamilton believes they landed in the U.S. The spotted lanternfly comes from China. George Hamilton, extension specialist in pest management at Rutgers University, told USA TODAY. How did the spotted lanternfly get to the US? Department of Agriculture, told USA TODAY. "As it gets warmer, we're going to start seeing a massive hatch," Matthew Travis, It's already happening this year, with eggs in some places beginning to hatch. It's why federal officials are trying to spread awareness about the spotted lanternfly, because there are concerns it could spread its outreach in the U.S. and cause more pain. Since then, the bug with colorful red, black and brown wings has spread throughout the Northeast, residing in 14 states and causing havoc. for the first time in eastern Pennsylvania. In 2014, the invasive species was discovered in the U.S. It's that time of year – when millions of Americans channel their inner "Terminator" and say "hasta la vista, baby" to one of the country's biggest pests: the spotted lanternfly.
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