Spotted lanternflies are considered an invasive species in South Korea and the United States. Where are spotted lanternflies an invasive species? Spotted lanternflies hatch in May and are active until December with their eggs surviving through the winter into the next year.
This species is univoltine, meaning that a generation lasts for one year. Their abdomens are yellow with black bands. When startled or preparing to take flight they reveal their hindwings which are a striking scarlet with black and white patches. At this stage they are about 2.5 centimetres long and have light grey-brown forewings covered in dark spots. They experience a significant change in appearance when they transform into winged adults. In the fourth they become red and black with white spots and are about 1.5 centimetres long. In the first three instars after hatching, the tiny nymphs are black with white spots. They've also been found in adjacent countries in Asia, including South Korea and Japan, but researchers think that it is highly likely that the insects have spread into these areas from China.ĭuring their life cycle, spotted lanternflies go through four wingless stages of growth (known as instars) before becoming adults. Spotted lanternflies are native to China.
As their name suggests, they live and feed on plants and they are strong jumpers. Planthoppers are what entomologists also call 'true bugs' (meaning they are part of the order Hemiptera) and there are about 12,500 species of them found around the world. With their wings outspread, the spotted lanternfly could be mistaken for a colourful butterfly or moth, but they are actually a species of planthopper. If their spread into new areas isn't controlled, these insects can cause significant damage to both native and economically important plants.
An invasion of spotted lanternflies ( Lycorma delicatula) may not sound as intimidating as that of the honeybee-munching ' murder hornets' that filled social media feeds in 2020, but their ability to swiftly disperse across new ranges is as concerning.
0 kommentar(er)
