NEW AT FOUR AN INVASIVE FLY FROM ASIA COULD BE CAUSING ALL KINDS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS HERE IN THE PIEDMONT TRIAD, THE FIRST TO LIVE POPULATION WAS FOUND IN THE KERNERSVILLE AREA LAST SUMMER AND IT’S STILL THE ONLY KNOWN INFESTATION IN THE STATE. LUCKILY, THEY ARE HARMLESS TO ANIMALS AND HUMANS. THE ONLY HARM THEY POSE TO HUMANS IS A NUISANCE. BASICALLY BEING KIND OF AN ANNOYANCE REALLY. BUT THEY DON’T BITE OR STING. THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY. IT’S ONE OF THE MOST PREVALENT INVASIVE SPECIES IN THE US. IT’S AN INSECT THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS ABOUT AN INCH LONG, GAINING ITS NAME FROM ITS SPOTS. THE MAJOR PROBLEM RIGHT NOW IS THE NUISANCE. THEY’RE GOING TO BE PRESENT IN HIGH NUMBERS. THEY SAY THEY DON’T HAVE A LOT OF NATURAL ENEMIES. RIGHT NOW OR PARASITES. THAT’S ONE THING A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STUDYING. THE BUG IS NATIVE TO ASIA AND WAS FIRST FOUND IN THE US AND PENNSYLVANIA IN 2014. IT’S MANAGED TO SPREAD TO 12 STATES IN JUST EIGHT YEARS. RECENTLY, THE INSECTS WERE SPOTTED WITHIN A FEW MILES RADIUS OF KERNERSVILLE REALLY IN THIS SITUATION THEY WERE LOOKING FOR AND THEY CONFIRMED A BREEDING POPULATION. AND AND THIS YEAR THEY’RE FINDING ACTUAL YOUNG EMERGING AND ACTUALLY SHOWING THAT THEY’RE REPRODUCING HERE IN THE AREA. THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY FEED ON PLANTS AND DURING HEAVY INFESTATIONS COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS TO CERTAIN FRUITS. FOR INSTANCE, THE GRAPE INDUSTRY IS REALLY WORRIED BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN EVIDENCE THAT THEY CAN IMPACT GRAPE GROWTH AND PRODUCTION BY MASSIVE FEEDING ON THAT PLANT. THE PESTS CAN ALSO IMPACT POPULAR PLANTS USED FOR LANDSCAPES AROUND HOMES AND BUSINESSES, WHICH IS ANOTHER CONCERN. THEY DO BECOME OVERWHELMING SOMETIMES ON PLANTS. THEY CAN BUILD UP HUGE POPULATIONS. OFFICIALS ASK THAT IF YOU SEE THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY, TAKE A PICTURE OF IT AND REPORT IT TO THE STATE
North Carolina officials warn about invasive species spotted near Kernersville
An invasive fly from Asia could be causing environmental problems in the Piedmont Triad
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Updated: 5:55 PM EDT May 25, 2023
An invasive fly from Asia could be causing environmental problems in the Piedmont Triad.Late last month, state agriculture officials announced an infestation of the spotted lantern fly near the Kernersville area.Officials say this is the first colony of the insect spotted in the state. "Luckily, they're harmless to animals and humans," said entomologist and director of North Carolina State University's Plant Disease Insect Clinic Matt Bertone. "The only harm is they're a nuisance, basically an annoyance, but they don't bite or sting."Top Stories Man shot and killed in Winston-Salem, police say Barber known for mentoring young men and addressing violence dies Why are true crime stories so popular?The spotted lantern fly is one of the most prevalent invasive species in the U.S.It's an insect that's about an inch long, gaining its name from its spots."The major problem right now is the nuisance," said Bertone. "They're present in high numbers and don't have a lot of natural enemies or parasites. That's one thing a lot of people are studying right now."Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereThe bug is native to Asia and was first found in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014. It's managed to spread to 12 states in just eight years. Recently, the insects were spotted within a few miles radius of Kernersville.Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts"Really, in this situation, they were looking for and confirmed a breeding population," said Bertone. "And this year, they're finding actual young, emerging insects, and they're reproducing here in the area."The spotted lantern fly feeds on plants and, during heavy infestations, could cause problems with certain fruits."For instance, the grape industry is worried because there's evidence they can impact grape growth and production by feeding on that plant," Bertone said.The pests can also impact popular plants used for landscaping around homes and businesses, which is another concern."They do become overwhelming sometimes on plants," said Bertone. "They can build up huge populations and produce a lot of honey-dew, which is sugar water that produces waste and that makes objects sticky. Molds will also grow on that, so they can foul areas where they are present."Officials are asking that if you see the insect, to take a picture of it and report it to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |Trending Stories
KERNERSVILLE, N.C. — An invasive fly from Asia could be causing environmental problems in the Piedmont Triad.
Late last month, state agriculture officials announced an infestation of the spotted lantern fly near the Kernersville area.
Officials say this is the first colony of the insect spotted in the state.
"Luckily, they're harmless to animals and humans," said entomologist and director of North Carolina State University's Plant Disease Insect Clinic Matt Bertone. "The only harm is they're a nuisance, basically an annoyance, but they don't bite or sting."
Top Stories
The spotted lantern fly is one of the most prevalent invasive species in the U.S.
It's an insect that's about an inch long, gaining its name from its spots.
"The major problem right now is the nuisance," said Bertone. "They're present in high numbers and don't have a lot of natural enemies or parasites. That's one thing a lot of people are studying right now."
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here
The bug is native to Asia and was first found in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014. It's managed to spread to 12 states in just eight years. Recently, the insects were spotted within a few miles radius of Kernersville.
Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts
"Really, in this situation, they were looking for and confirmed a breeding population," said Bertone. "And this year, they're finding actual young, emerging insects, and they're reproducing here in the area."
The spotted lantern fly feeds on plants and, during heavy infestations, could cause problems with certain fruits.
"For instance, the grape industry is worried because there's evidence they can impact grape growth and production by feeding on that plant," Bertone said.
The pests can also impact popular plants used for landscaping around homes and businesses, which is another concern.
"They do become overwhelming sometimes on plants," said Bertone. "They can build up huge populations and produce a lot of honey-dew, which is sugar water that produces waste and that makes objects sticky. Molds will also grow on that, so they can foul areas where they are present."
Officials are asking that if you see the insect, to take a picture of it and report it to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
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