The Spotted Lanternfly Invades Bridgewater
The Bridgewater area is facing an infestation of an invasive species called the spotted lanternfly. On January 26th, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources confirmed the presence of these pesky bugs within Bridgewater. The spotted lanternfly is native to Asia but has begun making its way to the United States over the past few years. It does not sting nor bite, but it does serve as a general nuisance to planters and farmers.
The spotted lanternfly is about an inch in length. The topside of their wings is gray and covered in black spots, while the underside of their wings is a vibrant red. These little critters feed on the sap of plants, including many of the plants that farmers grow every year. Additionally, the spotted lanternfly leaves a sticky layer of water product called honeydew which can be damaging. Large numbers of these species can be the cause of immense damage to the produce on farms, which can be devastating for local farmers already struggling in the current economy.
Without a natural predator in the area, it is hard to keep the population under control, just as the US is seeing with so many other invasive species. Bridgewater is not the only area facing the wrath of the spotted lanternfly as many other areas across the country are attempting to get the population of the insects to be more manageable.
In an announcement following this confirmation, Bridgewater Town Manager Casanova-Davis stated, “We’d like to encourage our community residents and businesses to review the information and educational resources provided by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources about the spotted lanternfly. We will continue to share updates as new information becomes available.”
The full extent of this infestation will not be determined until after further observation. Experts and authorities are asking residents to report sightings at www.mass.gov/spotted-lanternfly. In addition to reporting the sightings, residents are encouraged to destroy the insect if they can by squishing it or crushing its eggs, often found in large clusters.
