These bugs are everywhere within the mid-Atlantic states. These pests eat our crops, trees and wreak havoc upon humans. Spotted lanternflies are an invasive insect native to China. These insects were discovered in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014 and have since then spread to neighboring counties and states. Here in America, they are responsible for money being lost in vineyards, wineries, and crops. Some authorities have been suggesting that it is important to kill the bugs because of the threat they are to the economy and the damage they do to those in the grapes, apple, hops, and hardwood industries. These spotted lanternflies have no predators that eat them here. People have recorded praying mantises eating them along with spiders but not as effective.
These things are all over the Dixon House. Students who live there say that they are literally all over the trees there. Some say that these bugs fly on them and fly inside the windows. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture urges everyone to kill the lanternflies. Don’t let them ruin precious crops that we all eat, authorities say.
Summer Rieves, social work major, who lives in Dixon house said, “these insects are everywhere. I would go out and stomp, stray, and scrape off the eggs off the trees. Then the next day there are millions more than they were yesterday!”
Marcia Robinson, biology major, said, ” These things are absolutely disgusting! I run when I see them. I tried to kill one and I screamed off the top of lungs! Then I ran away and cried because they jump! I don’t get time to be trying to kill those things and that’s just on period.”
To kill these bugs can be a bit tricky. If you try to step on them they will jump. They jump more than they fly. The best way to kill them is to hover your shoes over them. Then slowly stomp them and twist. Another way to get rid of them is Dawn Dish soap dispenser. Dawn is eco-friendly for the soil and trees, so you won’t harm the trees if you were to spray them to death. Dawn apparently suffocates them and they die in 30 seconds.
Please if you seem these bugs, kill them without hesitation. We the people can help save our crops and trees. Please don’t have regrets killing them; just stomp and kill because they cause serious damage.
In this podcast, a couple of students in the interview were going around trying to find trees. They found lanternflies all over a tree outside Founder’s Hall. It has hundreds of them. Students were playing a game they created called “Who can squish the most lanternflies.” These bugs jump, fly, and allegedly bit a student.
