June 5th, 2022

But how far can they ‘jump’ in a year?

One of the more unknown aspects of the spotted lanternfly has been how nimble it has been since first being discovered in the U.S. in 2014 in Berks County.

Black-and-white spotted lanternfly nymphs about a quarter-inch long are starting to hatch in the region, hopping across decks, patios, and trees before they morph over the summer into flying Technicolor adults.

If you haven’t seen them in your yard yet, it could only be a matter of time.

The invasive pests are turning out to be pretty mobile, either through hopping, flying, or hitching rides, according to a recent study in which Pennsylvania served as ground zero. One of the more unknown aspects of the spotted lanternfly has been how nimble it’s been since being discovered in the U.S. in 2014 in Berks County.

Rachel Cook, an environmental analyst who was earning her master’s degree at Purdue University in Indiana, released a study late last year on the movement of the spotted lanternfly. She had learned about the insect while spending a lot of time in Philly where her sister lives. It hadn’t invaded Indiana — yet.

Check out the original article here