Lanternflies on a plant, and then a close-up image of one

Amy Lee/Alamy Stock Photo (Branch); GH Photos/Alamy Stock Photo (Lanternfly); H. Evan Miller/Shutterstock.com (Orb Weaver Spider); Chien Lee/Minden Pictures (Giant Forest Ant); Evgeniy Ayupov/Shutterstock.com (Praying Mantis)

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Squash This Bug!

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

March 14, 2022
By Jackie Appel

As You Read: Identify two ways that you can help stop the spread of spotted lanternflies.

Last year, a student in Kansas found a bug he hadn’t seen before. He added it to his bug collection and showed it off at the Kansas State Fair.

A fair worker identified the bug. He knew it was dangerous. The worker told officials, starting a bug hunt across the U.S.!

Last year, a student in Kansas found a bug he hadn’t seen before. He added it to his bug collection. He then showed it off at the Kansas State Fair.

A fair worker identified the bug. He knew it was dangerous. The worker told officials. This started a bug hunt across the U.S.!

Little Bug, Big Deal

The bug was a spotted lanternfly. These insects come from Asia. They are called invasive because they harm the ecosystems they move into. Spotted lanternflies were first seen in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014. Finding one in Kansas was bad news. It meant that the pests were spreading west.

Since 2014, the number of spotted lanternflies has soared. There are now large populations in Eastern states like Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. 

“The genie is out of the bottle,” says Michael Raupp. He studies invasive bugs like lanternflies at the University of Maryland. 

The bug was a spotted lanternfly. These insects come from Asia. They are called invasive because they harm the ecosystems they move into. Spotted lanternflies were first seen in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014. Finding one in Kansas was bad news. It meant that the pests were spreading west.

Since 2014, more spotted lanternflies have been seen in the U.S. There are now large populations in Eastern states like Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. 

“The genie is out of the bottle,” says Michael Raupp. He studies bugs at the University of Maryland. 

Map It Out

Would you be more likely to see a spotted lanternfly in Maine, Pennsylvania, or Ohio?

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

Map It Out

Would you be more likely to see a spotted lanternfly in Maine, Pennsylvania, or Ohio?

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

Food Fight!

The biggest problem with these bugs is what they eat. Lanternflies love crop plants, especially grapes, apples, and peaches. The insects grab onto plants. Then they suck out the nutrients that the plants need to survive. 

Once they’ve eaten, they make a sweet substance called honeydew. That can cause fungi and mold to grow and can hurt the plants even more. Many plants are killed. 

The biggest problem with these bugs is what they eat. Lanternflies love crop plants. They especially love grapes, apples, and peaches. The insects grab onto plants. Then they suck out the nutrients. And plants need those nutrients to survive. 

After eating, they make a sweet substance called honeydew. That can cause fungi and mold to grow. This can hurt the plants even more. Many plants are killed. 

What Can We Do?

Scientists are still figuring out how to stop the lanternflies. They’re working to create a pesticide that is friendly to the environment. It would use special species of fungi to kill the bugs. 

How can you help? 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 say that you should stomp that bug!

Scientists are still thinking of ways to stop the lanternflies. They’re working to create a pesticide. They want it to be friendly to the environment. It would use special species of fungi to kill the bugs. 

How can you help? 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 say that you should stomp that bug!

Mother Nature Fights Back!

Humans aren’t the only creatures out to get the spotted lanternfly—or what the bugs leave behind. Other species are giving us a helping hand. Here are just three examples.

Orb Weaver Spider

This spider can trap lanternflies in its web. 

Orb Weaver Spider

This spider can trap lanternflies in its web. 

Giant Forest Ants

These ants eat honeydew left by lanternflies. Less of that means less tree-killing fungi. 

Giant Forest Ants

These ants eat honeydew left by lanternflies. Less of that means less tree-killing fungi. 

Praying Mantis

This insect's bent front legs can make it look like it's praying. It loves lanternfly for dinner. 

Praying Mantis

This insect's bent front legs can make it look like it's praying. It loves lanternfly for dinner. 

Mother Nature Fights Back!

Humans aren’t the only creatures out to get the spotted lanternfly—or what the bugs leave behind. Other species are giving us a helping hand. Here are just three examples.

Orb Weaver Spider

This spider can trap lanternflies in its web. 

Orb Weaver Spider

This spider can trap lanternflies in its web. 

Giant Forest Ants

These ants eat honeydew left by lanternflies. Less of that means less tree-killing fungi. 

Giant Forest Ants

These ants eat honeydew left by lanternflies. Less of that means less tree-killing fungi. 

Praying Mantis

This insect's bent front legs can make it look like it's praying. It loves lanternfly for dinner. 

Praying Mantis

This insect's bent front legs can make it look like it's praying. It loves lanternfly for dinner. 

  1. Why was finding a lanternfly in Kansas bad news?
  2. The expression “the genie is out of the bottle” comes from an old story. Today we use it to talk about something that is done— and very hard to undo. Why does expert Michael Raupp use it in this article?
  3. What are two ways spotted lanternflies hurt plants?
  1. Why was finding a lanternfly in Kansas bad news?
  2. The expression “the genie is out of the bottle” comes from an old story. Today we use it to talk about something that is done— and very hard to undo. Why does expert Michael Raupp use it in this article?
  3. What are two ways spotted lanternflies hurt plants?
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