sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

This is the preserved Spotted Lanternfly that was gifted to me by "Gatorcoach" who is a member here and I am truly grateful for his generosity and the opportunity to stage it for focus stacking sessions and to share it with other here. They have not made it to our area yet so this is a rare opportunity for me to have a preserved one.

The beauty of the Spotted Lanternfly is shadowed by its invasiveness and threat to agriculture. They are an invasive species that destroy fruit crops, trees and plants by hopping from plant to plant, crop to crop, and tree to tree so their destruction can be widespread. They are one of many invasive species that have made their way here that are considered to leave a path of destruction.

They are native to regions of Asia and they were first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014. Since then, Pennsylvania vineyards have seen considerable damage in high infestation areas and the Mid-Atlantic states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and West Virginia have also suffered from its presence.

They can be controlled with insecticides which are effective at killing the insect on grapevines, however they are expensive and of limited use because of constant re-infestation from the Spotted Lanternfly emerging from surrounding vineyards.

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yorkiebyte Loc: Scottsdale, AZ/Bandon by the Sea, OR

Crazy Good images ....Whooohoo!!

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Beautiful photos of a lovely lantern fly. Well done.

Dennis

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks for the feedback.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, Dennis. Perhaps they would make good fish bait.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Absolutely, AFTER you take photos.

Dennis

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

(And it's real hard to sneak up on them to stomp them!)

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, Longshadow. This one was sent to me in a bottle of alcohol and I have yet to see one here (that's a good thing for our agriculture).

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Gorgeous set, Gary! One of your best.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Outstanding as always, sippy.

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

Great set Gary...

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, UTMike. I suspect that they haven't made it out your way yet.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, Kpmac. It's unfortunate that something so colorful can be so destructive.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, SX2002. I hope that they are not down there by you now too.

Barn Owl

sippyjug104, Thanks again for your impressive macros. They are a gift to science and the eyes.