Spotted lanternfly

Spotted lanternfly is an invasive pest that is infamous for infesting trees and threatening agricultural crops. Though it does not pose direct threat to humans, its presence could adversely impact forests, agriculture and tourism.
The planthopper is indigenous to China, India and Vietnam. Over the years, it has spread to Japan, South Korea and the United States. The invasive species was first spotted in the US in 2014. Since then, the pest’s population has increased significantly, spreading across several states over the past few years. Some of the hosts of this pest are grapes, stone fruits and Malus species.