A colourful bug is invading New York and could cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage if it is not prevented.
Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences officials are warning locals to keep an eye out for the spotted lanternfly.
What do they look like?
The insect is easy to recognize because of the design of spots on its wings. Its front wings are a light brown colour with black spots, and its back wings have patches of red, white, and black.
Adults are about half an inch long and a quarter of an inch wide.
Even though the bugs are pretty, they are a major threat to the business of the area. If their number isn’t kept in check, they could cost New York $300 million a year.If you see one, kill it immediately
If you see one, kill it immediately
Infesting wooded areas, fruit trees, and farms, the spotted lanternfly will do a lot of damage to New York’s farming. This last one is especially scary for the local wine business because these swarming insects love to eat the sap from grapevines and will kill the plants if they get enough of it.
There are a few ways to keep these pests away, which is good news. Spotted lanternflies can be killed right away with vinegar or insecticidal soap. Mixing water and about a tablespoon of vegetable oil with liquid soap like Dawn also works.
Another, probably more satisfying method of getting rid of these bugs is to vacuum them. Some have also discovered an excellent approach to trap and kill a large number of them using only an empty water bottle.
Of course, you may also break them with your feet the old-fashioned way.
Be on the lookout for their eggs
People should also be on the watch for their egg masses, which can appear to the inexperienced eye like a smudge of drying clay. These masses, which are roughly an inch long, can be found on a variety of hard surfaces, but are most typically found on trees and stones.
They’re also on cars, outdoor furniture, and fencing. If there is a high concentration of tree-of-heaven in the area, it is critical to inspect these locations. The spotted lanternfly prefers to feed on a tree-of-heaven, also known as Chinese sumac.
If you come across any of these masses, destroy them right once because they could contain up to 50 lanternfly eggs. People are instructed to squish these lumps and scrape them into a plastic zipped bag containing rubbing alcohol or hand sanitiser. After that, securely shut the bag and dispose of it properly.
Spotted lanternflies begin producing eggs in September and the season lasts until the first deadly freeze in November.
In the end, it makes little difference how these critters are killed; the goal is to exterminate the invasive species before it’s too late. Any sightings should also be reported to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
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