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Squash This Bug!

They look pretty, but spotted lanternflies are dangerous pests. Can we stop their spread across the U.S.?

March 2022
By Jackie Appel

Amy Lee/Alamy Stock Photo

You will most likely notice spotted lanternflies as adults with wings, or these red, black, and white-colored nymphs.

GH Photos/Alamy Stock Photo

Some species of fungi can infect and kill the insects.

Back in 2014, a student in Kansas found a bug he hadn’t seen before. He looked up its name, added it to his bug collection, presented it at the Kansas State Fair . . . and triggered a national investigation.

The bug was a spotted lanternfly. These insects come from China and are considered invasive because they harm the environments they move into. Spotted lanternflies were first seen in the U.S. earlier that year in Pennsylvania. Finding one in Kansas meant these plant-eating pests were on the move. A judge at the State Fair told authorities, which started a countrywide bug hunt.

Since then, spotted lanternfly numbers have soared. Now, there are large populations in Eastern states like Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. “The genie’s out of the bottle,” says Michael Raupp, who studies invasive bugs at the University of Maryland.

Back in 2014, a student in Kansas found a bug he hadn’t seen before. He looked up its name and added it to his bug collection. When he presented it at the Kansas State Fair, something unexpected happened. The insect triggered a national investigation!

The bug was a spotted lanternfly. These insects originally come from China. In the U.S., spotted lanternflies are considered invasive. That means they cause harm in the environments they move into.

Spotted lanternflies were first seen in the U.S. earlier that year. Some of the plant-eating pests had been found in Pennsylvania. Finding one in Kansas meant that the lanternflies were spreading. A judge at the State Fair told authorities, who started a nationwide bug hunt.

Since then, spotted lanternfly numbers have grown. Now, there are many of them in Eastern states like Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. “The genie’s out of the bottle,” says Michael Raupp. He studies invasive bugs at the University of Maryland.

What You Need to Know About Spotted Lanternflies
Watch a video about spotted lantern flies.

The biggest problem with these bugs is what they eat. Lanternflies love crop plants—especially grapes, apples, and peaches. The insects latch onto plants and suck out the nutrients that the plants need to survive. Once they’ve eaten their fill, they produce a sweet substance called honeydew that can cause fungi and mold to grow and hurt the plants even more.

Scientists are figuring out how to fight back. They’re working to create an environmentally friendly pesticide using special species of fungi to kill the bugs. Native species are also giving a helping hand: Predators like spiders, praying mantises, and birds hunt lanternflies. “Mother Nature is sending her hit squad over to help clean up the situation,” says Raupp.

But the best way to stop spotted lanternflies is to keep them from spreading. If you travel, make sure you don’t accidentally take the insects with you. If you see one in the wild, scientists recommend that you stomp that bug!

The biggest problem with these bugs is what they eat. Lanternflies love crop plants like grapes, apples, and peaches. The insects latch onto the bark of these plants. Then they suck out the nutrients that the plants need to survive. The bugs leave behind a sweet substance known as honeydew. That can cause fungi and mold to grow on the plants, which hurts them even more. 

Scientists are now figuring out how to fight back. They’re working an environmentally friendly pesticide that could kill the bugs. Native species are also helping the effort. Predators like spiders, praying mantises, and birds hunt lanternflies. “Mother Nature is sending her hit squad over to help clean up the situation,” says Raupp.

But the best way to protect plants is to keep spotted lanternflies from spreading. If you travel, make sure you don’t accidentally take the insects with you. What if you see one in the wild? Scientists have a suggestion: Stomp that bug!

THE SPREAD OF SPOTTED LANTERNFLIES

Here’s where spotted lanternflies have been found in the U.S. through October 2021.*

*Kansas was left off the map to save space.  Jim McMahon/Mapman

THE SPREAD OF SPOTTED LANTERNFLIES

Here’s where spotted lanternflies have been found in the U.S. through October 2021.*

*Kansas was left off the map to save space.  Jim McMahon/Mapman

Ape Audit: Analyzing Populations With Percent Change
Watch an instructional video about percent change

FINDING PERCENT CHANGE

Percent change shows how an amount changes relative to its original value. It is a way to look at variations in a population over time.

EXAMPLE

In 2014, there were spotted lanternfly infestations in 2 states. In 2021, there were infestations in 11 states. What was the percent change in the number of states with spotted lanternfly infestations?

STEP 1

Subtract the original amount from the new amount and divide by the original amount.

STEP 2

Convert your answer to a percent by rounding it to the nearest hundredth, multiplying by 100, and adding a % sign.

4.5 × 100 = 450%

So there was a 450% increase in the number of states with spotted lanternfly infestations.

FINDING PERCENT CHANGE

Percent change shows how an amount changes relative to its original value. It is a way to look at variations in a population over time.

EXAMPLE

In 2014, there were spotted lanternfly infestations in 2 states. In 2021, there were infestations in 11 states. What was the percent change in the number of states with spotted lanternfly infestations?

STEP 1

Subtract the original amount from the new amount and divide by the original amount.

STEP 2

Convert your answer to a percent by rounding it to the nearest hundredth, multiplying by 100, and adding a % sign.

4.5 × 100 = 450%

So there was a 450% increase in the number of states with spotted lanternfly infestations.

Scientists track the spread of spotted lanternflies by mapping the counties where they have been found and where there is an infestation. Answer the questions about the change in infestations by county. Round answers to the nearest percent. Record your work and answers on our answer sheet.

Scientists track the spread of spotted lanternflies by mapping the counties where they have been found and where there is an infestation. Answer the questions about the change in infestations by county. Round answers to the nearest percent. Record your work and answers on our answer sheet.

Complete the chart (above) on the answer sheet to find the percent change in the number of counties infested in each state and in total.

Complete the chart (above) on the answer sheet to find the percent change in the number of counties infested in each state and in total.

Which state(s) shown in the chart below had the largest percent change in lanternfly-infested counties from 2020 to 2021? The smallest?

Which state(s) shown in the chart below had the largest percent change in lanternfly-infested counties from 2020 to 2021? The smallest?

If the spotted lanternfly infestations in New Jersey change by the same percent in 2022 as they did the year before, how many counties in New Jersey would be infested?

If the spotted lanternfly infestations in New Jersey change by the same percent in 2022 as they did the year before, how many counties in New Jersey would be infested?

Continue the Learning Journey

 
  • Choose an animal species from the World Wildlife Fund. Research the populations of your chosen animal over a period of time. Then identify 5 population data points and calculate the percent change from one given year to the next.
  • Use your completed chart from page 21 to make a double bar graph. Label the y-axis “Counties Infested by Lanternflies” and the x-axis “State.” Draw two bars for each state, one representing the 2020 data and the other the 2021 data. Then analyze your graph and answer the following questions:
    • Does the bar graph look the way you expected, given the percent changes you calculated?
    • Is there any new information you can derive from the graph?
    • Which visual do you find more helpful in understanding the information, the graph or the chart?

Continue the Learning Journey

 
  • Choose an animal species from the World Wildlife Fund. Research the populations of your chosen animal over a period of time. Then identify 5 population data points and calculate the percent change from one given year to the next.
  • Use your completed chart from page 21 to make a double bar graph. Label the y-axis “Counties Infested by Lanternflies” and the x-axis “State.” Draw two bars for each state, one representing the 2020 data and the other the 2021 data. Then analyze your graph and answer the following questions:
    • Does the bar graph look the way you expected, given the percent changes you calculated?
    • Is there any new information you can derive from the graph?
    • Which visual do you find more helpful in understanding the information, the graph or the chart?
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