The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is letting residents know that if they spot a spotted lanternfly, squish it.
That may sound extreme, but this invasive insect has been found in Michigan, and it feeds on a wide range of plants; the tree of heaven is one of its favorite plants to snack on and destroy, but this thing can also affect our beer.
They say the problem with this bug is that although it can't fly far, it can travel long distances by hitchhiking or laying eggs on vehicles, outdoor equipment, and firewood, and it can bring a host of negative effects to specialty crops.
It’s not even just a problem for plants but for foods and ingredients that we use quite a bit here in Michigan. These things are known to eat grapes and apples, and they can even snack on hops, which are used to make massive amounts of Michigan-brewed beer.
If my beer is affected by some dumb bug, I plan on going scorched earth on the entire species. I'm gonna make a few calls, and those bugs are gonna be wearing concrete shoes, if you catch my drift. Don't play with my hops.
So you see, it’s not just fine plants that it snacks on; as the Michigan DNR explains, fruits that we eat all the time here can also be affected by the bug and bring additional nuisances into our lives:
Spotted lanternfly feeds on more than 70 different plants, including grapes, apples, hops, and hardwood trees. The insects cause direct damage by sucking sap from host plants and secreting large amounts of sugar-rich, sticky liquid called honeydew. This honeydew and the resulting black sooty mold can kill plants and coat surfaces. The honeydew often attracts other pests like yellow, yellow jackets, flies and ants, affecting outdoor recreation and complicating crop harvest.
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Gallery Credit: Sweet Lenny
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