Pardon the cringe-worthy piety, but spotted lantern flies did not invade, we brought them here, either by intent or negligence. And having brought them here, our answer is to kill them? What does that say of us? And for what sin must they be crushed? That they inconvenience us?
I never understood how anybody could think teaching small children to stomp on beautiful insects is a good idea. People who have never done anything for the environment seem to be getting such sick pleasure from stomping on spotted lantern flies. I’ve seen trees wrapped in sticky traps that apparently are capturing lots of pollinators and birds that stick to them die a slow tortuous death. It horrifies me. most invasions right themselves if we leave them alone. We humans have done so much damage to the environment and there are so many more important things we could be doing to help the environment like driving less, ordering less crap from Amazon and eating less meat etc. etc. etc. I’m so glad to see the tide is turning on this issue.
Yes! Only after I sent this out did I see that the sticky bands people are using to catch lanternflies en masse are also catching beneficial native pollinators and birds! It's so horrifying.
Still in the smoosh camp but relieved that the threat is not quite as bad as once thought. The seasonal swarm seems to be much smaller this year than last, perhaps a result of our erratic weather. That this invasive species owes its abundance to another (the "tree of heaven") is itself an interesting story.
Me too! I think it's possible the swarms are just in different places; I haven't seen large numbers in one place either, but I have seen *TikToks* of hundreds of lanternflies swarming outside apartment buildings and things. And yes, fascinating connection there with the tree of heaven! (Which, I just learned, is the tree in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn??)
Sep 17, 2023·edited Sep 17, 2023Liked by Jessica McKenzie
I did not know that. For many, it's considered the ultimate weed tree, taking over abandoned lots and traffic medians before others can gain purchase. It's seen as a nuisance and even "restricted" in some states. But a horticulturist friend tells me that the landscape designers behind Brooklyn Bridge Park chose to include it in their layout of that fantastic urban space. I've seen them there, planted intentionally.
Pardon the cringe-worthy piety, but spotted lantern flies did not invade, we brought them here, either by intent or negligence. And having brought them here, our answer is to kill them? What does that say of us? And for what sin must they be crushed? That they inconvenience us?
Absolutely! The fault is definitely human..
Gary doesn’t miss, massive W Gary
I never understood how anybody could think teaching small children to stomp on beautiful insects is a good idea. People who have never done anything for the environment seem to be getting such sick pleasure from stomping on spotted lantern flies. I’ve seen trees wrapped in sticky traps that apparently are capturing lots of pollinators and birds that stick to them die a slow tortuous death. It horrifies me. most invasions right themselves if we leave them alone. We humans have done so much damage to the environment and there are so many more important things we could be doing to help the environment like driving less, ordering less crap from Amazon and eating less meat etc. etc. etc. I’m so glad to see the tide is turning on this issue.
Yes! Only after I sent this out did I see that the sticky bands people are using to catch lanternflies en masse are also catching beneficial native pollinators and birds! It's so horrifying.
Still in the smoosh camp but relieved that the threat is not quite as bad as once thought. The seasonal swarm seems to be much smaller this year than last, perhaps a result of our erratic weather. That this invasive species owes its abundance to another (the "tree of heaven") is itself an interesting story.
Me too! I think it's possible the swarms are just in different places; I haven't seen large numbers in one place either, but I have seen *TikToks* of hundreds of lanternflies swarming outside apartment buildings and things. And yes, fascinating connection there with the tree of heaven! (Which, I just learned, is the tree in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn??)
I did not know that. For many, it's considered the ultimate weed tree, taking over abandoned lots and traffic medians before others can gain purchase. It's seen as a nuisance and even "restricted" in some states. But a horticulturist friend tells me that the landscape designers behind Brooklyn Bridge Park chose to include it in their layout of that fantastic urban space. I've seen them there, planted intentionally.