Dreaded Spotted Lanternflies Returning

(Berks County, PA) -- State agriculture officials are urging residents to be on the lookout for the dreaded return of Spotted Lanternflies. The invasive bugs are starting to come to life once again this spring, like other insects. Experts say the Chinese-native bugs can destroy grape vines, fruit trees, and other plants. The best way to combat the bugs is to squish them when they are still small and in their nymph phase, like they are right now. The bugs were first discovered in Pennsylvania in Berks County in 2014 and have since spread out and costs the state more than 324-million-dollars annually in damages to timber, fruit tree and plant nursery industries.