A Threat to Our Plants and Environment

The lanternfly, scientifically known as Lycorma delicatula, is an insect that should be reported immediately if spotted. It originated in China and arrived in Pennsylvania, United States in 2014. Since then, it has expanded fast, causing substantial agricultural and environmental harm.

These invasive pests, with their insatiable appetites, feed on the sap of many plants and trees, causing weakening structures and the production of sooty mold from the sticky honeydew they produce. Unfortunately, this mold hurts the plants by blocking photosynthesis, reducing their ability to thrive.