Have You Spotted A Spotted Lantern Fly?

By Maddie Flynn                         

Spotted lantern flies are currently invading Pennsylvania and a bunch of other nearby places too. The South Asian spotted lantern flies feed on the sap of trees and plants. When these creatures come across a tree or plant with sap on it, they get attracted to that tree. While eating the sap, they also leave behind tracks of poop that attract a mold that kills that tree or plant.

So, people are wondering what to do if they see a spotted lantern fly. This is from the Pennsylvania state website: “Kill it, smash it… just get rid of it.”

So, what are people at WES saying about spotted lantern flies?

Nancy Wible, 4^th grade: “We must kill them quickly. The sooner the better!!!”

Julia Silverman 5^th grade: “I hate all spotted lantern flies and I kill them all the time.”

Stella Baker, 4^th grade: “I kill it! I kick the spot on the tree or ground where the lantern fly is.”

Will Clark 5^th grade: “They’re disgusting!”

So, that’s what people at WES think about the invasive species, Spotted Lantern Flies.