Photo used courtesy of Kenton County Cooperative Extension Service.
Distinctive invader found in Covington
COVINGTON, Ky. – It’s here.
The distinctive-looking spotted lanternfly – an invasive planthopper first reported in the United States in 2014 and moving steadily across the nation – has been found at two locations in Covington.
Needing to know more, Covington Urban Forester Patrick Moore is asking residents to be on the lookout for the colorful hitchhiker so any populations can be reported to researchers. University of Kentucky entomologists call the planthopper “a major agricultural, forestry, and residential pest” and fear it could cause potentially billions of dollars in economic losses.
“A single lanternfly was found near the railroad line downtown and a larger population was found by researchers in Devou Park, but we don’t know where else they might be,” Moore said. “We figure 41,000 sets of eyes are better than just a couple, so please be on the lookout. It’s critical that these populations be controlled before they become widely established.”
Bugs should be captured if possible, photographed (and then killed), and reported to the Kenton County Cooperative Extension office by calling (859) 356-3155 or emailing Brandon George at brandon.george@uky.edu or Mary Ann Schultz at maryann.schultz@uky.edu.
Or you can send photographs and information to ReportAPest@uky.edu.
The adult’s front wings have a distinctive mixture of stripes and spots, while the back wings have a bright red color that contrasts with white, black, and khaki coloration on the rest of the body, UK’s brochures say.
For pictures of the spotted lanternfly at all stages of its life, and details about reporting any sightings, see these webpages:
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