URI Experts Warning Residents Of Invasive Insect Species

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI — Experts at the University of Rhode Island are warning residents to keep an eye out for another invasive species expected to arrive in Rhode Island this summer, according to a news release from the school.

The spotted lanternfly, which is a sap-feeding leafhopper native to China, India, and Vietnam, was first detected in the United States in 2014 in southeast Pennsylvania and has since been found in eight other states. The insect feeds on over 70 different plants, including tree of heaven, maple trees, black walnut trees, ornamental trees, and grape vines.

"We expect it to arrive here imminently; this summer is very possible,” said Lisa Tewksbury, an entomologist at the URI Biocontrol Lab, in a statement.

The spotted lanternfly's eggs are laid on trees, but can also be found on picnic tables, wood pallets, and recreational vehicles. In their nymphal stages, they are black with white spots, and later they turn red with black and white markings. The insects transform into adults by late summer and die after the first frost.

“We think they’re spreading through the transportation system,” said Tewksbury. “They’re big insects that can fly around and land on trains and other vehicles or get caught in the grills of pickup trucks and end up getting transported to new places.”

Tewksbury and a team of scientists are currently studying how to manage spotted lanternflies and are asking Rhode Islanders to periodically check for the insects on nearby plants. If any are found, residents are asked to collect a specimen and send a photo to lisat@uri.edu.