CLEVELAND — If you've been out and about in Cleveland, you may have noticed the spotted lanternfly.
The highly invasive species typically peaks this time of year as the pests grow to their adult stage, but experts said the population has multiplied.
"It seems the population has been building up somewhat, so that may be partially explain why more folks are seeing spotted lanternfly," said Jonathan Shields, Ohio Department of Agriculture spotted lanternfly program manager.
The spotted lanternfly is native to Asia and was first detected in Ohio in 2020. Shields says they hitchhike their way along transportation corridors, typically on edges of rail lines and abandoned properties.
"Today was the first time I've heard that name, and it kind of sounds scary," Raquel Wright told us. "I don't really know much about it."
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Experts say you should kill them if you see them to avoid a potential threat to vineyards and orchards.
"When it feeds on the sap, it can weaken the tree. It can make it susceptible to secondary infections," Shields noted. "But also, as it's feeding on this sugary liquid, it's making waste, and that waste is kind of a sugary liquid, too, and it can promote the growth of sooty mold, and if that mold is growing on the fruits, they're really not usable for consumption."
The state has been tracking infestations and listed Cuyahoga County on it's quarantine list, requesting that some industries self-inspect for the pests.
"The first and best thing to do is kill it," Shields said. "Stomp on it."
You can report the insects on the Ohio Department of Agriculture's website.