"Dude, my shoes are whiter than yours. You step on it", said my brother Andre with his very clean, new Air Force 1's.
"My kicks may not be as white, but they're just as new", I shot back. "Mom, why don't you?"
"That thing looks disgusting and squishy. I don't want bug guts all over me!", she exclaimed.
Native to parts of Asia, the spotted lanternfly has been seen everywhere in NYC. Ever since it arrived in NY in July 2020, its numbers seem to keep increasing with each passing summer.
I've never really heard of lanternflies until just a few weeks ago. And now that they're on my mind, I see them everywhere. This morning, while at a soccer game, I saw one just strolling on the grass in the middle of the play.
In the conversation between Andre, my Mom, and me, the lanternfly was never killed, and it probably should have been.
The thing is, while lanternflies don't sting, bite, or do anything to directly harm humans, the Department of Agriculture strongly encourages people to stomp on these insects when they see them.
I never really understood why, and there wasn't a clear enough reason to do so. Also, I just didn't want to have any guts or broken wings sticking to the back of my shoe...
But, after reading up on what lanternflies actually do, it's clear to me that my dirty shoes just don't matter.
Indeed, lanternflies are an invasive species and can quickly become overpopulated, wreaking havoc on their new environment. Essentially, the insects are a danger to more than 100 trees and plants. They insert their straw-like beaks into the tree/plant and feed on the sap, causing them to leak sap from the wounds and leave behind a sticky honeydew that can lead to the growth of sooty mold, a fungal disease.
For anyone who likes their wine, you might wanna listen. In Pennsylvania, the state's grapevines (a preferred food source for the lanternfly) have been heavily affected, causing economic harm and leading to a reduction in yields since the bug's arrival.
Sure, let's step on a couple of bugs every day. What the hell is that going to do? Aren't there already thousands in the wild?
Of course, this is just a short-term strategy. Scientists will continue to research and develop more long-term, sustainable solutions. However, your role as a human bug squasher may not be as insignificant as you think.
"One female spotted lanternfly can lay up to 40 egg masses", says Brian Eshenaur, who works with the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program.
I don't like stomping on bugs, and you probably don't either. But I also like trees, and hopefully you do too! They're nice to look at and also like... keep us alive, y'know? The battle between trees and lanternflies is a battle anyone could join, and I like the sound of "Team Trees" better than the sound of "Team Lanternflies".
Also, this has got me thinking. Aren't shoes supposed to get dirty? Like, what's the point of shoes if you don't wear 'em and get 'em dirty?
Not all heroes wear capes –– some wear sneakers.
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