After I posted here and on Facebook that I saw my first Spotted Lanternfly in northern New Jersey yesterday, someone asked:

Can you share more why are they so bad? and why should we kill and report them?

Excellent questions. These invasive insects have been seen in Pennsylvania and part of NJ for so long that many of us have taken the "why's" for granted.

Here's what the New Jersey Department cautions:

SLF is a serious invasive pest with a healthy appetite for our plants and it can be a significant nuisance, affecting the quality of life and enjoyment of the outdoors. The spotted lanternfly uses its piercing-sucking mouthpart to feed on sap from over 70 different plant species. It has a strong preference for economically important plants and the feeding damage significantly stresses the plants which can lead to decreased health and potentially death.

As SLF feeds, the insect excretes honeydew (a sugary substance) which can attract bees, wasps, and other insects. The honeydew also builds up and promotes the growth for sooty mold (fungi), which can cover the plant, forest understories, patio furniture, cars, and anything else found below SLF feeding.

If you see a Spotted Lanternfly, help us Stomp it Out!

You can read the NJ Dept. of Agriculture warning here.

An informative NJ news article is here.

After I reported, folks also wrote that where they live or work (in other parts of New Jersey and NYC), the insect has overrun their area -- to the point where they are forced to kill hundreds at a time.

I share their comments:

"I just killed another 200 or so in my yard in Somerset County."

"I saw one at the top of the observation deck of 30 Hudson Yards. They've even 100 floors in the sky!"

"We are infested with them here. Each female can lay 40 to 50 eggs. So sad!"

On a walk through the Clove at High Mountain in Wayne today, I photographed a Spotted Lanternfly.

It flew before I could kill it.

Just read that these invasive bugs have been seen in every county, but thought I had better post.

I reported the sighting to the state.

If see one, klll it.

An earlier post on lanternflies is here.

A Paramus birder asks:

Birds have been landing on my screen door periodically. There are no bugs where they land and to me no reason for them to attach themselves to the screen. Do you have any idea why they would do that?

It's just the back screen door.  No bugs on the screen that I have ever noticed. Different types of birds. We do not have a feeder and I don't think my next-door neighbors do either?  The birds have made holes in the mesh. That is all the information that I have,

Any ideas?