Kill on Sight: Why Utahns Are Being Asked to ‘Smash to Oblivion’ This Invasive Beauty

Spotted Lanternfly: An Invasive Threat from China

This invasive bug from China is thriving in the United States and doing damage to native trees. If you see a spotted lanternfly in Utah or any surrounding states, smash it into oblivion. 

This bug showed up in a shipment of stone from Asia in 2012 to Pennsylvania. Since then, it has been rapidly spreading across the United States doing damage to trees including grapes and fruit trees. 

Potential Damage: Protecting Utah’s Agriculture

They have not been reported in Utah yet, but they could do a lot of damage to the state's agriculture. For this reason, no matter your sensibilities to small creatures, it is recommended to squish it should you see one. 

They are about an inch long with gray wings in the front that have black spots on them. There is also a set of wings in the back that have red and black with the same dots. The head looks upwards with a mouth made for sucking out sap. 

Read More: Why Are Mosquitoes Buzzing Early This Year in Southern Utah?

They congregate in large numbers and there have been an increase this year due to warm temperatures. These bugs have adapted to urban settings and have been known to spread by hopping on trains and riding in backpacks.    

We do not need these invasive lanternflies in Utah. If you have friends and family who have traveled from the northeast with any suspicious bugs that came with them, kill these bugs on sight. The same goes for anything that looks like a brown sack of eggs.