Spotted Lanternfly-Adult
This beautiful, but invasive little creature is neither moth nor fly. It is actually a member of the family, Fulgoridae... a large group of hemipteran insects, especially abundant and diverse in the tropics.
According to Wikipedia:
"The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a planthopper that is indigenous to parts of China, India, Vietnam, and eastern Asia. Although it has two pairs of wings, it jumps more than it flies. Its host plants include grapes, stone fruits, and Malus species, though its preferred host is Ailanthus altissima (Chinese sumac or tree of heaven). In its native habitat it is kept in check by natural predators or pathogens. It was accidentally introduced in Korea in 2006 and has since been considered a pest. In September 2014, it was first recorded in the United States, and as of 2018 it is an invasive species in eastern Pennsylvania, southwestern New Jersey, northern Delaware, northern Virginia, and eastern Maryland."
These photos were taken in PA...a few miles over the Cecil County portion of Maryland. There is a hotline to report Pennsylvania sightings to help track and control the spread of this unwelcome visitor from the Far-East.
Nottingham Park
Chester County, Pennsylvania
August 1, 2020
6125
Spotted Lanternfly-Adult
This beautiful, but invasive little creature is neither moth nor fly. It is actually a member of the family, Fulgoridae... a large group of hemipteran insects, especially abundant and diverse in the tropics.
According to Wikipedia:
"The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a planthopper that is indigenous to parts of China, India, Vietnam, and eastern Asia. Although it has two pairs of wings, it jumps more than it flies. Its host plants include grapes, stone fruits, and Malus species, though its preferred host is Ailanthus altissima (Chinese sumac or tree of heaven). In its native habitat it is kept in check by natural predators or pathogens. It was accidentally introduced in Korea in 2006 and has since been considered a pest. In September 2014, it was first recorded in the United States, and as of 2018 it is an invasive species in eastern Pennsylvania, southwestern New Jersey, northern Delaware, northern Virginia, and eastern Maryland."
These photos were taken in PA...a few miles over the Cecil County portion of Maryland. There is a hotline to report Pennsylvania sightings to help track and control the spread of this unwelcome visitor from the Far-East.
Nottingham Park
Chester County, Pennsylvania
August 1, 2020
6125