{"id":153,"date":"2025-09-22T03:53:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T03:53:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tacolewis.com\/?p=153"},"modified":"2025-09-22T05:23:38","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T05:23:38","slug":"lanternflies-took-over-my-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tacolewis.com\/?p=153","title":{"rendered":"Lanternflies Took Over My Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The other day, I set out for a simple afternoon of errands\u2014a grocery run, a stop at the mall, and maybe a coffee to keep me going. But what should have been an ordinary day turned into something that felt like a scene from a bug invasion movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I walked around, I started noticing flying insects everywhere. At first, I didn\u2019t recognize them, but they were impossible to ignore. They landed on faces, hair, shoulders\u2014anywhere they pleased. Curious (and a little annoyed), I did a quick search and discovered what they were: spotted lanternflies<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when I say they were everywhere, I mean it. The sidewalks were littered with them. Shoppers stomped on them with every step. Some kids even turned it into a game, laughing as they squashed them into the pavement. If you\u2019re someone who doesn\u2019t like bugs, this scene would\u2019ve sent you running straight back home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I tried to push through my errands like it was business as usual, but the swarms were relentless. I ducked into stores for relief, but once I stepped back outside, it was like entering a lanternfly storm all over again. Even at the coffee shop, I couldn\u2019t sit outside like I normally do. I wasn\u2019t about to risk sipping a latte with an unexpected \u201cprotein boost.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thinking I\u2019d outsmart them, I drove to another grocery store farther away. But when I arrived, there they were, scattered across the entrance like they had been waiting for me. By the time I made it home, I was tired of swatting, stomping, and scraping bug juice off my shoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are Lanternflies, Anyway?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The spotted lanternfly<\/strong> (Lycorma delicatula<\/em>) is an invasive species originally from Asia. First detected in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014, they\u2019ve since spread to several states, including New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and yes, my area too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"bug\"<\/a>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.aphis.usda.gov\/plant-pests-diseases\/slf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite their pretty wings, lanternflies are destructive pests. They feed on the sap of trees, vines, and crops, leaving behind a sticky residue called honeydew that promotes mold growth. This not only damages plants but also threatens agriculture, especially vineyards, fruit orchards, and hardwood trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because they spread so quickly and cause so much damage, many states actually encourage people to kill them on sight. So when you see kids stomping them into the ground\u2014it\u2019s not just fun and games, it\u2019s pest control!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lesson Learned<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The next time I go out, I won\u2019t just check the weather. I\u2019ll check the lanternfly forecast<\/em>, too. It seems that on some days, the real storm isn\u2019t rain or sunshine, it\u2019s a swarm of lanternflies waiting to turn a normal day of errands into an unforgettable adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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