Lanternfly lands on hit list in US

A lanternfly from Asia has landed on the United States' most wanted list after the invasive pest caught the attention of scientists in Pennsylvania and New York who have called for it to be caught, quarantined and killed.

The invasive "spotted lanternfly", officially called Lycorma delicatulais native to Asian countries including India, Vietnam and the northern part of China. Residents in Berks County, Pennsylvania, first spotted them in 2014.

Since then, they have spread their wings to several other states, including New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Connecticut, Ohio and Indiana. Sightings have risen since July as they are highly active in summertime.

Dr Frank Hale, a horticulturist and professor of entomology at the University of Tennessee Extension told China Daily: "The problem with spotted lanternfly is they didn't get it eradicated in Pennsylvania when it was first found in Berks County in 2014 to 2015. It has spread since.

"Since it can fly, it can hitchhike on cars and trucks and it lays its eggs on smooth surfaces that are outdoors. … It could be [transported] on the side of a railroad car or the side of a truck."

Several agricultural departments are calling for residents who see the tiny bugs to kill them on sight, because they can wreak havoc on more than 70 types of crops; infest trees and destroy vineyards.

"If you see a spotted lanternfly, squish it, dispose of it, and report it to us," the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation said on Sept 21.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture echoed New York, saying: "Kill it! Squash it, smash it ... just get rid of it."

Maryland harkened back to the Wild West, telling residents to send the creature to its Department of Agriculture "Dead or Alive".

The insect, a hopping tree bug, has "sucking mouth parts that can pull a lot of fluid or sap out of the plants and that stresses the plants", said Hale.

"They rob plants of carbohydrates that produce photosynthesis, instead of the carbohydrates going down to the roots to be stored for the winter so that it can put out new shoots in the spring, it doesn't have enough carbohydrate reserves in the roots," he adds.

The insect, which resembles a moth, can be identified easily because it has two pairs of wings, the front set light gray with black polka dots; the second set features red polka dots and blue wings. If confronted, it will jump away.