While walking through Sands Point Preserve in New York, a flash of motion caught my attention: a medium-sized insect flew right past us and landed in a nearby bush. Following it with my eyes, I was immediately drawn to its striking appearance—grey wings patterned with black spots and a brilliant flash of red on its hindwings. Later during the visit, I spotted several more of them resting together on a stone pillar in the garden.
This eye-catching insect is scientifically named Lycorma delicatula, but it goes by many names. In English, it is commonly known as the Spotted Lanternfly. In Chinese, its official name is 斑衣蠟蟬 (Bānyī Làchán), translating to "spotted-robe wax cicada." Folk and regional names include 斑點燈籠蠅, 花姑娘 (Huā Gūniang - "flower maiden"), and 椿蹦 (Chūn Bèng - "tree-hopper").
Despite its vibrant appearance, this bug carries a heavy ecological reputation: in North America, it is currently one of the most closely monitored invasive species. Driven by curiosity, I wanted to explore what this insect is, how it arrived in the U.S., why it poses a threat, and whether it poses any danger to us.
What Is the Spotted Lanternfly?
Despite its name, the spotted lanternfly is neither a fly nor a moth. It belongs to the order Hemiptera (true bugs) and is officially classified as a planthopper.
- Native Range: Native to parts of China, Vietnam, and Taiwan. In its home ecosystem, native predators and natural parasites keep its numbers in check.
- Feeding Style: They possess piercing-sucking mouthparts. Instead of eating leaves, they pierce plant bark to drink nutrient-rich sap.
How Did It Get to New York?
The spotted lanternfly was first discovered in the United States in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014. It is believed to have arrived around 2012 as hidden egg masses on imported stone shipments.
Their egg masses resemble inconspicuous, muddy patches on smooth surfaces. Because females lay eggs on almost anything—cars, trains, RVs, outdoor furniture, and stone structures—they easily hitchhike across state lines. Over time, these hitchhikers traveled down transport corridors, establishing growing populations across New York City and Long Island, including scenic spots like Sands Point Preserve.
Why Is It Considered an Invasive Threat?
- Lack of Natural Controls: In North America, native birds and insects are still adapting to prey on them, allowing lanternfly populations to explode unchecked.
- Plant Damage & Favored Hosts: They love feeding on agricultural crops like grapevines, apples, peaches, and hardwood trees like maples and oaks. Their favorite host, however, is the Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), another invasive plant species common in roadsides and parks.
- The "Honeydew" Problem: As they feed on sap, they excrete a sticky, sweet liquid known as honeydew. This honeydew coats leaves, patio furniture, and ground cover, giving rise to sooty mold—a black fungus that blocks sunlight, inhibits photosynthesis, and attracts swarms of stinging insects like wasps.
Are They Harmful to Humans or Pets?
No, they do not pose a direct physical danger.
- No Biting or Stinging: Their mouthparts are designed strictly for drinking sap, so they cannot bite or sting people or pets. They are not venomous and do not carry human diseases.
- Pets: If a dog or cat accidentally eats one, it is not toxic, though it might cause a mild, temporary upset stomach.
- Indirect Nuisance: While harmless to human skin, large infestations can be messy. Their sticky honeydew coats cars and outdoor furniture, which can attract swarms of yellowjackets, wasps, and ants.
Life Stages to Look For
- Autumn to Spring: Egg masses that look like dried mud on tree trunks, stones, or structures.
- Late Spring to Early Summer: Early nymphs, which are tiny, wingless, and black with bright white spots.
- Mid to Late Summer: Late-stage nymphs, which turn vibrant red and black with white spots.
- Late Summer to Late Autumn: Adults with gray spotted wings and bright red underwings.
在走訪紐約的沙點保護區（Sands Point Preserve）時，一隻蟲突然從我們面前飛過，飛進了旁邊的灌木叢中。我順著它飛過的路徑仔細一瞧，立刻被它特別的外貌吸引了——前翅呈灰褐色且布滿黑色斑點，當翅膀張開時，還能看到鮮豔的紅色後翅。隨後在花園裡散步時，我又在石柱上看到了好幾隻。
這種色彩斑斕的昆蟲學名是 Lycorma delicatula。在英文中，它被稱為 Spotted Lanternfly（斑點燈籠蠅）；在中文裡，官方正式名稱是斑衣蠟蟬。民間和各地俗名也非常生動，例如花姑娘（因其服飾般豔麗的翅膀）、椿蹦（因其喜好棲息於臭椿樹且極善跳躍），以及英文直譯的斑點燈籠蠅。
雖然外表美麗且令人好奇，它在北美卻是一種令人頭疼的「外來入侵物種」。出於好奇，我特別整理了關於它的資料：它究竟是什麼？又是如何來到這裡的？對我們會有危險嗎？
什麼是斑衣蠟蟬？
雖然英文名帶有「fly」（飛蠅），但斑衣蠟蟬既不是蒼蠅，也不是蛾類或蝴蝶。它屬於半翅目蠟蟬科，是一種蠟蟬/飛蝨（Planthopper）。
- 原產地： 原產於 中國、越南及台灣。在原產地的自然生態系中，有寄生蜂、鳥類和螳螂等天敵控制其數量，因此很少造成大規模災害。
- 進食方式： 它們有刺吸式口器。它們不直接啃食葉片，而是刺破樹皮吸食植物體內富含養分的汁液。
它是怎麽來到紐約的？
2014 年，斑衣蠟蟬在美國賓州伯克斯縣（Berks County）首次被正式記錄。據推測，它們可能早在 2012 年左右，就以隱蔽的「卵塊」形式附著在進口的石材貨櫃上傳入美國。
由於雌蟲的卵塊外觀極像乾燥的泥巴，且喜歡產卵於車輛、火車、戶外家具及石材表面，它們便順利「搭便車」隨同人類交通網絡迅速蔓延，進而擴散至紐約市、長島及沙點保護區等自然公園。
它為什麼會成為嚴重的外來入侵危害？
- 缺乏本土天敵： 美國當地的野生鳥類與昆蟲尚未建立起對其大規模捕食的習慣，導致其族群量呈現爆炸式增長。
- 農作物與樹木受害： 它們喜好吸食葡萄樹、蘋果樹、桃樹、楓樹及橡樹的汁液，對當地果園與農業造成巨大經濟損失。其中，它最喜愛的寄主是同樣來自亞洲的入侵植物 臭椿（Tree-of-Heaven）。
- 「蜜露」與煤污病問題： 斑衣蠟蟬在大量吸食樹汁後，會排出高糖分的黏性排泄物（蜜露 / Honeydew）。蜜露覆蓋樹幹與地表植物後，極易滋生黑色的煤污病（Sooty Mold），阻礙植物光合作用，同時還會引來大量的胡蜂與螞蟻聚集。
它對人體或寵物有害嗎？
答案是：不會直接造成傷害。
- 不會叮咬： 它們的口器僅用於吸食植物樹汁，沒有刺螫或叮咬人體的構造，也沒有劇毒或傳播人類疾病的風險。
- 對寵物的影響： 家中寵物若不小心誤食，雖然無毒，但可能因消化不良而出現短暫的腸胃不適。
- 環境困擾： 雖然對人體皮膚無害，但大量群聚時排出的「蜜露」會滴落並沾黏在戶外座椅、車輛與地面上，容易吸引黃蜂、蜜蜂與螞蟻聚集，帶來生活上的困擾。
一年四季的型態變化
- 秋冬至春季（卵期）： 樹幹、石柱或建築物上類似乾燥泥巴的灰色塗層。
- 晚春至初夏（低齡若蟲）： 無翅，體型微小，全身黑底帶醒目白斑。
- 仲夏至夏末（高齡若蟲）： 無翅，身體換上鮮豔的紅黑相間外套，並保有白斑。
- 夏末至深秋（成蟲）： 體長約 2.5 公分，具灰褐色斑點前翅與鮮紅後翅。
Posts: Insects by Name 昆蟲-英文名錄
Posts: Insects by Order/Family 昆蟲-目/科錄