An environmental scientist says that spotted lanternflies are ahead of schedule in New York, where peak levels could be reached this year.
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2023.The infamous spotted lanternfly is back for the summer. Some people are reporting that 2023’s infestation feels worse than last year’s, and an environmental scientist said the bugs are ahead of schedule in New York, where peak levels could be reached this year.
This invasive species from Asia has become ubiquitous around the Northeast since it first arrived in 2014. While the bug seems like it is here to stay, it doesn’t seem to be as disastrousSome predictions had called this year for the spotted lanternflies to hatch a bit earlier than normal due to warm weather from the past winter, said Brian Eshenaur, senior extension associate at Cornell University’s Integrated Pest Management Program.
“After the hatch occurred, the warm weather of the spring seems to have accelerated their development. So, they are now a week or two ahead of last year,” Eshenaur said. We had the first reports of the 4th instars [the stage that gives rise to the adults] on Wednesday from both Long Island City and the Chelsea area of Manhattan. It looks like the first adults will be seen a week or so earlier than last year.
This June, the citizen scientist app iNaturalist reported about twice as many verified sightings of spotted lanternfliesThis photo from Long Island City was sent to Cornell scientist Brian Eshenaur on June 28. The red colored 4th instar nymphs, which are emerging ahead of schedule this year, can be seen on the upper portion of the stem.
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