The lanternfly menace: a little bug that does a lot of damage

Since it came to the US from China in 2014, the lanternfly has been destroying plants and animals. It is a tiny bug with a big appetite for destruction. Bugs like this one feed on plant sap, which weakens trees and plants and makes them more likely to get diseases and other pests. It makes honeydew that is sticky and helps sooty mould grow. This mould can stop photosynthesis and put our green spaces at risk of dying.