Spotted Lanternflies Take Over Kiryas Joel Backyards

By Y.M. Lowy

Residents enjoying the last licks of good weather in their backyards are finding themselves surrounded by spotted lanternflies.

The inch-and-a-half pests, native to China, first appeared in Pennsylvania in 2014 after hitching a ride on imported goods. Since then, they’ve spread across the East Coast, attacking more than 70 plant species. Grapes, apples, and other fruit crops have been devastated, while local trees like oak, maple, and sumac are left weakened and vulnerable to disease.

Since reaching New York in 2020, lanternflies have spread citywide and are now showing up in large numbers in Kiryas Joel. With their striking gray wings speckled with black dots and red underwings, experts warn that each bug can lay up to 50 eggs in the fall, making infestations spread rapidly. And unlike many other insects, lanternflies don’t avoid people. They often land directly on clothing or faces, making them especially difficult to ignore.

Officials call them “bad bugs” for a reason. The advice is simple: if you see one, squish it before it takes over.