It's that time of year – when millions of Americans channel their inner "Terminator" and say "hasta la vista, baby" to one of the country's biggest pests: the spotted lanternfly.
In 2014, the invasive species was discovered in the U.S. for the first time in eastern Pennsylvania. Since then, the bug with colorful red, black and brown wings has spread throughout the Northeast, residing in 14 states and causing havoc.
It's why federal officials are trying to spread awareness about the spotted lanternfly, because there are concerns it could spread its outreach in the U.S. and cause more pain. It's already happening this year, with eggs in some places beginning to hatch.
"As it gets warmer, we're going to start seeing a massive hatch," Matthew Travis,
national policy manager for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, told USA TODAY.
How did the spotted lanternfly get to the US?
The spotted lanternfly comes from China. George Hamilton, extension specialist in pest management at Rutgers University, told USA TODAY. Hamilton believes they landed in the U.S. via shipping crate.
Source: delawareonline.com
Photo Credit: pennsylvania-department-of-agriculture
Categories: Pennsylvania, Crops, Livestock, Poultry