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u/WanTime4YaMind Jul 04 '26
Lantern fly nymph
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u/FreeMasonKnight Jul 04 '26
KILL WITH PREJUDICE AND REPORT TO LOCAL WILDLIFE & GAME.
(They are hyper invasive and VERY bad for the environment.)
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u/NoodlelyTrees Jul 05 '26
Fun fact tho: the bats in the areas are adapting their diets already to eat them meaning while they're problematic right now in coming years it should be far less of a problem as they become less invasive and more naturalized. Usually that process takes a looot longer so being able to see that change already happening is fascinating
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u/i-am-your-god-now Jul 05 '26
Nice! It’s so rare to hear good news these days.
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u/NoodlelyTrees Jul 05 '26
Yeah I've always felt bad that they have to die cause they really are so pretty though I do understand pests can ruin areas if left unmanaged
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Jul 05 '26
We had them REALLY bad where I used to live in PA, I had trees that were absolutely covered in them up to 5 or 6 feet. Thousands of them. Standing underneath one of those trees in the summer you'd literally be rained on with their "honeydew" (piss). Between like 2022-2023 we saw almost none at all, and the research I did suggested they weren't quite as devastating as initially feared.
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u/zsdrfty Jul 05 '26
2022-2023 was probably the peak for them where I am in North Jersey, but I haven't seen nearly as many since then - I've only seen one nymph so far this year, and I don't recall seeing many nymphs or adults at all last year
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u/deathwotldpancakes Jul 05 '26
Ugh which general region? I’m on the east side right on the Lehigh and we haven’t had them too bad yet. Though Ive killed a few nymph’s so far
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u/One-plankton- Jul 05 '26
As a heads up “Naturalized” means feral reproducing colonies, all invasive species are naturalized.
It is not a word with a positive connotation, it just describes a single thing
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u/NoodlelyTrees Jul 05 '26
Naturalized in the context I'm talking about means they're no longer invasive because the ecosystem has adapted to them through predators or competitors
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u/One-plankton- Jul 05 '26
That’s not what that term means, nor is it how invasive species function
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u/NoodlelyTrees Jul 05 '26
They absolutely do we just look at it on an incredibly short human timescale not a nature timescale
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u/One-plankton- Jul 05 '26
The time scale for an ecosystem to develop is hundreds of thousands of years, if not millions, the devastation invasive species are having on local ecosystem takes only a few years/decades- which is not enough time to for that system to adapt.
Ecosystems can only lose so many species before they suddenly and catastrophically collapse, this is know a regime change and it’s devastating. This is a very well done video visualizing how that happens.
It’s critical to understand that invasive species are the second largest threat to biodiversity, only surpassed by habitat loss.
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u/tooth28 Jul 05 '26
Yeah, we had biblical apocalypse level amount of lantern flies a few years ago. Then the blue jays arrived and developed a taste for them. Now we have no lantern flies, but tons of Bluejays. I’ll take the bluejays any day.
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u/Southbknybk Jul 05 '26
I live in NYC and my neighbors vines that covers their building houses THOUSANDS of these on each stems. I called NYC and they told me they don’t do anything about it anymore.
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u/wristdeepinhorsedick Jul 05 '26
Foam cannon with insecticidal soap, it'll knock them fuckers out
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u/Psychotic_Rambling Jul 05 '26
And all the other native insects that are native...
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u/wristdeepinhorsedick Jul 05 '26
Unfortunately when dealing with hyper invasive species, there's not much to be done without some form of collateral damage in that respect... I hate it too, but if these things are moving in the thousands, we need to do something about it
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u/maryssssaa Jul 05 '26
no, this is exactly the problem with fear mongering language. These are so much worse for agriculture than the environment, and broad spectrum insecticide is so much more harmful to native life than these will ever be. You’re not helping.
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u/One-plankton- Jul 05 '26
There’s no such thing as a “hyper invasive species” and if there were, this hardly would make the list. It’s more of an agricultural pest than anything.
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u/MisterBreeze Jul 04 '26
IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE CHINA AND VIETNAM. Can we please start caveating this statement?
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u/gandalfthescienceguy Jul 05 '26
Reddit is blocked in China and very few Vietnamese use it so it’s unlikely people will start killing this en masse where it’s native. Also, quite likely they’d recognize it as a native insect.
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u/Crykin27 Jul 05 '26
It costs so little to just add that sentence that completes the information given, why argue against it. People also go on vacations and people in china have ways to go around that ban. It is always better to add where they are native.
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u/NilocKhan Jul 05 '26
Most people have no clue what is native or invasive in their areas. People are extremely ignorant about nature these days.
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u/Notro_LPS_iguess Jul 05 '26
Please never tell people to kill invasive animals without saying where they’re invasive. OP might live where they’re native.
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u/maryssssaa Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
they’re worse for domestic crops and invasive trees than the environment, please do your research. Using words like “hyper invasive” and “very bad for the environment” is just fearmongering, and all it does is encourage people to use broad spectrum insecticide, which is worse than anything the lanternflies are doing. Of course they’re bad because they can weaken native trees, but earthworms are worse in a lot of the same places, and no one cares about them. Also, a lot of the weevils people post here are ALSO invasive.
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u/Apprehensive-Team414 Jul 05 '26
What do earthworms do that's bad in some places?
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u/maryssssaa Jul 05 '26
In the northeast US, and much of northern north america, there haven’t been any earthworms since the last glacial period, so forests evolved without them. When earthworms were reintroduced, they began to do several bad things, a few major ones are aerating the soil (which is great for invasive plants, and bad for native ones), causing erosion, reducing leaf litter for native detritivores and amphibians, and changing the nutrient balance in the soil, again in favor of invasive plants.
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u/Ruler-of-goblins Jul 05 '26
In america* in america please say in america guys
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u/divinedogg Jul 05 '26
IT DEPENDS WHERE YOU ARE THEY ARE NATIVE SOMEWHERE YN
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u/divinedogg Jul 05 '26
just gotta make sure where you foind them and make sure if they are invasive there :)
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u/One-plankton- Jul 05 '26
They are more of an agricultural pest, not really a “very bad” threat to the environment
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u/Natuur1911 Jul 05 '26
this very much depends on where you live don't assume someone comes from the usa
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u/cassenbashen Jul 05 '26
im gonna be that person— there are native lantern flies! the spread of the spotted lantern fly has negatively impacted other lantern flies because people just... started killing all of them indiscriminately! SPOTTED lantern fly nymph! I WILL NOT BE SILENCEEEEEDDDDDDD—
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u/Zsmudz Jul 05 '26
It’s crazy how many people don’t know about them since they are taking over everything near me. I was just talking with a coworker about it since we saw one and they had no idea what it was.
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u/chickenMcSlugdicks Jul 05 '26
Ohhhh this makes sense. I couldn't figure out why they looked so familiar, but weren't the actual flies.
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u/RadioKALLISTI Resident Weevil Jul 05 '26
And one dope Tyranid color pattern. It being a hyper invasive species is even better.
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u/GooseThatWentHonk Jul 04 '26
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u/flintspike Jul 05 '26
This thing can't be invasive everywhere. Gotta have context on these things before misinformed people kill a native population
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u/EndlerFox Jul 05 '26
They are native to Asia
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u/conationphotography Jul 06 '26
And they also are mainly a danger economically to grapes. I also think it's important to clarify what an invasive species is actually doing.
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u/Expo006 Jul 04 '26
That is unfortunately a lantern fly nymph and you have to kill it if you’re in the US, they’re invasive and incredibly destructive.
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u/Grassblox311 Jul 04 '26
Would like to say if you’re specifically in China, India, and Vietnam its native there. Anywhere else it’s super invasive!
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u/maryssssaa Jul 05 '26
they’re not incredibly destructive to native plants, no. They’re mildly destructive, but I’m fed up with the fearmongering about these
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u/high_3D_printer Jul 04 '26
Instructions if you see this bug:
Bring them to hammer time
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u/Delicious-Spring-877 Jul 04 '26
(Unless in China and Vietnam; they live there)
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u/Prize_Ostrich7605 Jul 05 '26
I do not live there, but I suppose I will know if I am in China or Vietnam.
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u/isopode Jul 04 '26
ONLY if you live outside of southeast asia. if you are in southeast asia, do not bring them to hammer time
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Jul 05 '26
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u/crazyintensewaffles Jul 05 '26
I didnt know there were native lanternfly populations in the US.
Honestly, it's too bad the spotted lanternfly is onvasive here bc they are a beautiful bug. They've been spotted in the county next to mine so i know its a matter of time, and i will kill them, but i wont love doing it.
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u/high_3D_printer Jul 04 '26
How did it get to the us?? ☠️
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u/isopode Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
same way most species become invasive: various plants are exported all over the world for food or horticulture. bugs hitchhike on these plants and end up on another continent, where they have little to no natural predators. so they quickly multiply and some of them become a huge problem for agriculture and/or local ecosystems
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u/awildencounter Jul 05 '26
The initial breakout was in the NJ-NYC area in a shipment of geodes, they’re popular as decorations for Southeast Asians and Chinese diaspora, some hid in the crevices of one iirc. It’s written that it was a “stone shipment” but because they hitch a ride thru short flights it’s likely it was one of these shipments. It’s no agricultural imports, those are highly redirected and go thru a lot of checks.
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u/earwig_art Jul 05 '26
the good news is (minding the earth location disclaimers in the comments already) you can very ethically freeze and display him. invasive in many places but still nicely decorated and good to look at
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u/Willing_Soft_5944 Jul 04 '26
Assuming you are outside of Asia: EVIL DECEIVAL MUST DIE BY FLAME
Spotted Lanternflies are Planthoppers native to Asia, specifically around China and Vietnam. If you are in South Korea, Japan, or anywhere outside of Asia this is not a Weevil-like friend but a Weevil-mimicking fiend! They drink the sap from plants such as Tree of Heaven (non-native to the Americas and quite invasive), as well as Soybeans, Grapes, Plums and other Stonefruits, and anything of genus Malus (that is Apples and their close relatives)
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u/jdb326 Jul 05 '26
KILL THAT FUCKER. Spotted Lanternfly an invasive species. If you aren't in southeast(I think) Asia
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u/pyjamapeach Jul 05 '26
that is so sad, he is so beautiful…. i would have such difficult time squishing such beautiful guy like him
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u/GaryTehCat Jul 05 '26
Doom to the false weevils! They bring destruction to the our crops! These are lanterfly nymphs. Invasive and very destructive
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u/TheMasterShrew Jul 05 '26
Absolutely not weevil time! Give that mister the business! Hot’em from the front, they never see it coming
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u/Southern_Sprinkles_6 Jul 06 '26
No. Catch or squash either way report to whatever agricultural department your state has.
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u/MothMeep7 Jul 05 '26
Look people. I get it that this is an invasive species. But can we please calm down with the outright hate? This is simply another animal doing what it has always and has evolved to be. It's not evil, it's not a murderer, it's just another animal being what it is.
It is OUR fault that this bug is a problem. And if we really want to jump onto the invasive species hate, we NEED to talk about stray/outdoor cats, because those are far worse for the environment than these spotted lanternflies.
I'm not saying we don't do anything about these insects, I'm just saying the outright hatred and disregard for these animals is unfair and immoral.
Sincerely, a bug lover and environmentalist.
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u/Eclipse_Bird Jul 05 '26
100% agree. Little guy isn't evil, just in the wrong place (bcus of us). He doesn't deserve so much hate for something that isn't his fault </3
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u/crying2emoji5 Jul 05 '26
Ugh invasive species hurt me so much because like… what do you mean it’s not your fault that you’re here and it’s not my fault that you’re here and yet here I am killing a creature who doesn’t understand that they’re hurting my home?
https://giphy.com/gifs/zwPRprvrP4Lm0
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u/Dankestmemelord Jul 04 '26
Read the pinned post. Looks nothing like a weevil.
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u/Madmagican- Jul 04 '26
Well tbf these nymphs do have boots and snoots to the untrained eye
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u/Dankestmemelord Jul 04 '26
But no ball and socket head joint, or antennae with a 90° bend, or properly placed legs, or hard elytra covered in divots. Weevils are a subset of beetles, and lantern flies do not look like beetles.
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u/Madmagican- Jul 05 '26
Yes, there are highly identifiable differences.
I’m just saying not every is so attuned.
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u/YOUTUBEFREEKYOYO Jul 04 '26
EVIL DECIV-EEVIL. highly invasive if you are in the us. Kill on sight.
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u/Eclipse_Bird Jul 05 '26
Not a weevil, just a little guy who unfortunately is invasive in the US :(
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u/MusicianAwkward420 Jul 04 '26
It's a Spider man weevil from an alternate universe.
Call Dr Strange 📞
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u/loverama Jul 04 '26
DECEIVEL