Only One Way To Get Rid Of This Western New York Bug Infestation

This invasive species doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon, and it’s really affecting the farming community in Western New York.

The bugs are just out, and the humidity definitely doesn’t help. Mosquitoes, gnats, lightning bugs are all over the place, which is typical for this time of year, but now there is another bug to add to the mix.

Spotted. Lanternfly.

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive species, and it first made its presence well known in the month of July.

The Town of West Seneca put up a warning on Facebook, saying that one of the first sightings was at Sunshine Park. 

These spotted lanternflies are invasive pests and they can ruin agriculture and crops. One expert told Spectrum News that the spotted lanternfly species is slowly moving westward. 

These bugs like to frequent cars and trucks because they will, quite literally, “hitchhike” their way across town. They don’t have the stamina to sustain a long-distance flight, so the spotted lanternfly will try to latch onto whatever they can in order to travel.

The West Seneca Police Department urged people to squish the spotted lanternfly if you see it, but there’s another way to get rid of it, too. 

Apparently there is an at-home spotted lantern fly you can make that will kill this pest instantly and help you protect your crops.

One of the best ways to get a handle on these spotted lanternflies is vinegar. If you put white vinegar in a spray bottle, it should kill these lanternflies almost instantly, according to this guide. Dawn dish soap is also able to help slow these bugs.