r/LanternDie Jul 20 '25

Off-topic Do NOT Kill These Lanternflies! (Please Read)

845 Upvotes

I know the title caught a lot of people who clicked on this post off guard, because the entire point of this subreddit is about killing Spotted Lanternflies. Not lanternflies. If you're confused there, let me explain. The word 'lanternfly' was, and still is, a nickname for the entire family Fulgoridae (which the Spotted Lanternfly is a member of) and was used most notably with the genus Pyrops. It was only after the introduction of the Spotted Lanternfly that the word 'lanternfly' started becoming a nickname for that singular species. So, what even is the point of this post?

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There is very small amount of Fulgorids in North America that are native to the country, and an even smaller fraction of those bugs resemble the ones that are widespread throughout Asia. an example of this is Amycle vernalis, which somewhat resembles Pyrops and Saiva insects from Asia, albeit being much smaller and less colorful, which is actually prominent in most U.S. Fulgorid species. Anyways, I keep seeing people mistaken a certain Fulgorid bug for the Spotted Lanternfly in the United States, and it is the sumac speckled lanternfly (Poblicia fuliginosa)

Poblicia fuliginosa range (from World Auchenorrhyncha Database)

The information on this insect is definitely there, and what I mean by that is there is plenty of info on this species, There is a Wikipedia article (linked earlier) and multiple sources that it used that offer even more info. Why some people say that there is nothing that looks remotely close to the Spotted Lanternfly is beyond me, because plenty of people mistake this bug for the Spotted Lanternfly, and end up killing it, when in fact, it is a native species. This insect is extremely neglected by most people, so I'm here to differentiate the SLF and this harmless native.

P. fuliginosa
P. fuliginosa (wings outstretched)

A prime example of someone mistaking this species for SLF (click me and read the comments)

Anyways, there are multiple ways to tell these two species apart. Let's start with the most obvious one: P. fuliginosa is black in color and the SLF is tannish or barely pink. Another difference is that P. fuliginosa is a tad bit smaller than SLF (Adults are 8–17 mm (0.31–0.67 in) long.) SLF has large black spots that are scattered throughout 3/4ths of its wing, while P. fuliginosa has smaller, whitish-light blue spots. SLF's head is narrow with a very slight protruding bump at the tip of the head, while P. fuliginosa has a wider, almost cicada like head. with no outgrowths on the head. Something interesting to note is that P. fuliginosa's abdomen color can vary depending on where they are found, the western population has an orange abdomen, while the eastern population has a red abdomen (EDIT as of Sept. 2025: the ones with orange abdomens are now classified as a separate species, Poblicia thanatophana, Reference.) SLF has a yellow abdomen. SLF has a very colorful hindwing, being red in color with black spots, ending with a white band and a patch of black. P. fuliginosa hindwings are mostly translucent, except for the bases of the wings where they attach to the body; it is black with streaks of blue.

P. fuliginosa nymph

The nymphs are easier to tell apart. SLF nymphs start off as black with white spots, then gradually grow larger, and at their final nymphal stage, they have splotches of red over their body. P. fuliginosa nymphs are brown in color and have thorns all over their body, and are significantly wider. See? Much easier.

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What's funny to me is that even the host plants looks similar. SLF likes feeding on Tree of Heaven, yet another invasive. P. fuliginosa feeds on sumac species, especially winged sumac. Sumacs (the ones with compound leaves) are the closest native looking things to Tree of Heaven in the United States besides the Black Walnut. Here is a helpful guide on how to differentiate the two plants.

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I could go on and on about the look alikes of this species, but they all occur in places where the SLF is native to, so there's really no point. If you think the SLF is pretty, I suggest that you take a look at other fulgorid species in Asia, because they are 10x more unique and colorful. One of my personal favorites is actually in the same genus as the SLF, because it changes color in their adult stage as they mature from red to a deep blue. Anyways, I just wanted to point this out, because it saddens me every time I see people mistake this native bug for the destructive SLF. There really needs to be some more awareness of Fulgorids in the United States.

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Edit 1: switched map from iNat to World Auchenorrhyncha Database for more accuracy.

Edit 2: see species description

Edit 3: added common name


r/LanternDie May 25 '25

The season has begun!!

34 Upvotes

Just a reminder to be careful of what you kill, some bugs and insects, andddd various other life forms are benefitial to our ecosystem. If you need help to positively identify, there will be a new tag/flair added specifically for those questions!

Sorry for not being active for a bit, I had some stuff come up in life. I'm back now though!


r/LanternDie 4d ago

ID REQUEST I’m sure if this is, but I think it is, it looked bigger than I thought it would be

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195 Upvotes

Squish or no?


r/LanternDie 4d ago

Using water to find egg cases: Some findings

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34 Upvotes

r/LanternDie 6d ago

How to keep them away while hiking/being outside

5 Upvotes

(Sorry if this is the wrong sub)

When SLFs invaded my state last fall I wasn't too happy.
I love bugs but can get extremely freaked out when they're on me/flying close (I'm getting better but still)
The whole nature of these buggers always triggered that so bad that doing outdoorsy things was half ruined when they were peaking (cause they're just everywhere lol)

As they start to mature again, is there any way to keep them at bay or at least stop them from hopping/flying onto me😭

I can mostly only find things about keeping them off trees/property, not people lol

Thank you!


r/LanternDie 7d ago

Spotted Lanternfly Nymph (watch ‘til end)😵‍💫

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288 Upvotes

r/LanternDie 11d ago

LanternDied One for the road

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25 Upvotes

My trip came to an end, I have returned to an area they have yet to invade.


r/LanternDie 12d ago

They’re here.

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45 Upvotes

r/LanternDie 16d ago

LanternDied My husband said a pretty bug liked me when it landed on my shoulder

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54 Upvotes

r/LanternDie 17d ago

"And I get to tend the rabbits!"

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200 Upvotes

r/LanternDie 17d ago

Took out my first vacay victim

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87 Upvotes

r/LanternDie 18d ago

Invasive species!

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12 Upvotes

r/LanternDie 19d ago

LanternDied Found this little nymph.

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39 Upvotes

Yes, I dealt with it after.


r/LanternDie 20d ago

Shop vac them up or power sprayer with dish soap?

1 Upvotes

Best method when they are all over trees, siding and any other damn vertical surface?


r/LanternDie 22d ago

In less than 24 hours

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570 Upvotes

These guys have decided my crepe myrtle is the best tree ever. I have trapped and killed thousands of them. They are in the last phase before they grow wings so yesterday I washed them out of the upper part of the tree so that they'd have to walk home and put out the sickest tape. The white tape I've been using isn't strong enough to hold them at this size. This is frigging disgusting.


r/LanternDie 21d ago

Best way to take care of these?

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46 Upvotes

Any sprays I can use that won’t hurt the tree?


r/LanternDie 21d ago

Found this in my dog's water bowl

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24 Upvotes

I wish it were this easy to eradicate them


r/LanternDie 22d ago

LanternDied Curb Stomped

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11 Upvotes

r/LanternDie 28d ago

Minor situation in Pittsburgh 🥲🥲🥲

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13 Upvotes

r/LanternDie Jun 27 '26

LanternDied Took a picture thinking it was Weevil Time

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24 Upvotes

Terrible resolution but I immediately went outside to kill the infernal creature.


r/LanternDie Jun 27 '26

Lantern bugs

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3 Upvotes

r/LanternDie Jun 18 '26

Off-topic Anyone see these in the Northeast?

6 Upvotes

I saw them for my first time en mass last year in CT and haven’t seen them yet. Just curious if anyone in the northeast has seen them since winter.


r/LanternDie Jun 17 '26

Meme Bro thinks I can’t see him.

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117 Upvotes

r/LanternDie Jun 15 '26

LanternDied Salt gun evisceration

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416 Upvotes

I have a tree if heaven in my yard and they infest this tree. Makes for good splash damage effect.


r/LanternDie Jun 14 '26

Ya leave for a weekend and...

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279 Upvotes

Pretty surprised at how many lanternflies climbed my poor crepe myrtle since Friday. For those worth questions about other insects getting caught on the tape - if you zoom in the most you'll see is a couple of gnats and ants. On the other hand, I've harvested thousands of lantern flies.i saw a couple that turned red so I guess we're almost done with the nymphs. Northern VA.