HOUSTON — If you see one, squish it. That's the guidance from the Department of Agriculture when it comes to the spotted lanternfly.
It's an invasive species that you can identify by their spotted wings and black and red coloring. They’ll start laying eggs on any outdoor surface.
According to InvasiveSpecies.org, the spotted lanternfly feeds on more than 70 known host plants, including common grape vine, apples, birch, cherry, lilac, maple, poplar, stone fruits. They can cause crop damage.
The Department of Agriculture says if spot one in our area, you should squish it.
There’s also a form you can use to report where you spotted one.
How does the spotted lanternfly get around?
According to Texas A&M AgriLife, "Human-assisted movement poses a significant threat." The spotted lanternfly, which is native to Asia, can hitchhike at any stage of life. That's why it's critical to thoroughly check any plant or material that comes from areas known to have infestations of spotted lanternflies.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story indicated that they had been spotted in certain counties in Southeast Texas. We have removed that information from the story and are working on further confirmation.
