The lanternfly, or Lycorma delicatula, is an insect you want to get rid of immediately if you spot it. Originating in China, it was first seen in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014.
Since then, it has spread, causing significant agricultural and ecological damage. Lanternflies feed on the sap of many plants and trees, weakening them and causing sooty mold due to the sticky honeydew they excrete. This mold further harms the plant by inhibiting photosynthesis.
