Over
the
past
decade
the
invasive
Spotted
Lanternfly,
Lycorma
Delicatula,
has
made
its
way
into
17
states
and
now
several
sightings
have
been
reported
in
the
counties
around
Houston,
according
to
state
agencies.
According
to
the
U.S.
Department
of
Agriculture
(USDA),
the
Spotted
Lanternfly
is
an
invasive
planthopper
originally
from
Asia
that
feeds
on
grapevines,
hops,
stone
fruits,
hardwood
trees
and
70
other
known
plants.
The
insect
can
spread
quickly
and
excretes
a
sticky,
sugary
fluid
that
can
lead
to
further
damage
to
crops
and
plants.
Recently,
there
have
been
several
unverified
sightings
of
the
insect
but
the
USDA
said
in
a
statement
Friday
that
it
has
not
received
any
official
reports.
Texas
A&M
AgriLife
also
said
in
a
statement
that
there
are
no
verified
sightings
currently
in
Texas.
“Texas
Department
of
Agriculture
and
USDA’s
Animal
and
Plant
Health
Inspection
Service
work
together
to
investigate
reports
of
suspected
invasive
species
in
Texas,”
the
USDA
said
in
a
statement.
“At
this
time,
we
do
not
have
any
verified
reports
of
the
spotted
lanternfly
in
Texas.”
Read
more
at:
www.houstonpublicmedia.org
