Invasive Spotted Lanternfly Appears On UES: Kill It If You See It

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — If you come across an eye-catching insect with reddish wings and black spots on the Upper East Side this week, there's one thing you should do, according to local authorities.

Kill it.

That bug is the spotted lanternfly, a highly invasive species whose arrival in New York City could spell doom for the area's forests and crops. Native to Asia, it first appeared in the U.S. in 2014, before being spotted in Staten Island last summer.

In recent weeks, sightings have jumped across the city, including on the Upper East Side. On the iNaturalist website, New Yorkers have documented over 200 lanternfly sightings this year, including a half dozen on the Upper East Side: Carl Schurz Park on Aug. 5, Second Avenue on Aug. 13, John Jay Park on Aug. 16, and more.

"Harming our city’s wildlife is prohibited, but in an effort to slow the spread of this troublesome species, we are putting out a one-time call: if you see a spotted lanternfly, please squish and dispose of this invasive pest," the Parks Department said in a notice.

Upper East Sider Bich-Nga Nguyen said she saw two lanternflies on the terrace of her Yorkville apartment over the weekend: a dead insect that was wedged between two pavers, and a live bug sitting in her squash plant.

"That one hopped over the railing and is wandering around loose on the UES," Nguyen told Patch, "unless it died in the 13 story fall." (Lanternflies can only fly for short distances.)

Besides the bugs themselves, New Yorkers should look for their inch-long, waxy, brownish-gray egg masses, which can be scraped off of trees and rocks, then frozen and disposed of.

We're sounding the alert on the SPOTTED LANTERNFLY after a recent surge in Manhattan observations on @inaturalist—over 30 in just the last week. This invasive planthopper destroys plants and trees, but does not hurt humans. Kill it by swatting or squashing. pic.twitter.com/9YyIuTjMBu
— Manhattan Bird Alert (@BirdCentralPark) August 15, 2021

Spotted lanternflies don't kill trees directly — they feed on the sap of more than 70 plant species, causing the plants stress that can make them more vulnerable to disease. The insects also excrete a sticky "honeydew," attracting mold that can interfere with photosynthesis.

If they keep spreading, the lanternflies could threaten New York's valuable apple and grape industries, as well as hops, maple and timber.

And we bear some complicity for the infestation: lanternflies spread mostly through human activity, laying their eggs on objects like firewood, stone and outdoor furniture that are taken from place to place.

If you see a spotted lanternfly, report it to the Parks Department — and, if you wish, email a photo to nick.garber@patch.com.