Wear your shoes for mistakes.
In areas of the Northeast where the colorful but invasive lantern spot is emerging, the season of the kill has arrived. The next generation of crop-destroying pests has hatched in 16 states in the northeastern US
The invasive bugs can wreak havoc on plants and trees and could eventually threaten American winemaking as they evolve into moth-like insects.
The lantern spots, which it can fly and is a plant-hopping insect, is believed to have arrived in the U.S. on a stone shipment from China in 2012, according to New York State Integrated Pest Management Program at Cornell University in Ithaca.
What does penetrating lantern spot look like?
The life cycle of the spotted lanternfly begins in mid-spring. They are closely related to the cicada family and live mainly in trees.
Insects consume the sap up to 70 different plant species during their life cycle, especially fruit trees. As they eat, they release a sticky, sugary substance called honeydew that increases mold growth and attracts wasps and ants. Overfeeding the bugs can weaken the tree and eventually cause it to die.
Northeastern states are being invaded
Two-thirds of Pennsylvania's counties are in a quarantine zone, meaning many transportation-based businesses must receive Special permitwhich is gained since workers are trained to locate the insects and not move them elsewhere.
Individuals carrying contaminated materials or products containing egg masses can transmit spotted lights over long distances.
The spotted lanternfly is a threat to the wine industry
There is cause for concern about the arrival of the spotted lanternfly in wine-rich states such as California, New York, Oregon and Washington. A study published in the journal Communication Biology predicts that traffic light spot could reach California's grape-producing counties as early as 2027 but possibly as late as 2033.
It's not just grapes that are at risk, according to a study by researchers at North Carolina State University and the US Department of Agriculture. The study highlights crops such as apples, almonds, walnuts, cherries, hops and peaches.
If you spot a lantern, smash it!
Experts recommend killing insects when you see them mention them to your state's Department of Agriculture. The sooner the authorities learn about an attack, the better the chances that it will be controlled. There are several ways to kill them, including building a trapas Pennsylvania state officials point out in a online video. For information on approved insecticides and how to scrape egg masses, visit New York State Integrated Pest Management Program web page.
USA TODAY CONTRIBUTORS Mike Snider and Scott Fallon