The lanternfly menace: a little bug that does a lot of damage
Since it came to the US from China in 2014, the lanternfly has been destroying plants and animals. It is a tiny bug with a big appetite for destruction. Bugs like this one feed on plant sap, which weakens trees and plants and makes them more likely to get diseases and other pests. It makes honeydew that is sticky and helps sooty mould grow. This mould can stop photosynthesis and put our green spaces at risk of dying.
Nymphs, on the other hand, are born with black bodies and white spots that turn red before they grow up. Their mouths are shaped like needles, so they can cut plants and drink sap, which takes away the plants’ life force.
