"Experts warn the number of insects across New York City could reach into the millions this year, raising concerns about the impact on local vegetation and ecosystems."
"Jola Szubielzki, director of public information at the Department of Agriculture, stated that winter temperatures downstate were not cold enough for long enough to kill off eggs that overwintered."
"Kristen Winchell, an assistant professor of biology at New York University, noted that cities tend to have milder winters, creating favorable conditions for species that otherwise would only be able to live in warmer climates."
"Alonso Abugattas, Natural Resources Manager for Arlington County, mentioned that warmer weather causes them to emerge earlier each year, indicating a shift in their hatching patterns."
Spotted lanternflies, an invasive species from China, are expected to proliferate in 2026, threatening over 70 types of vegetation. They were first reported in Pennsylvania in 2014 and have spread to numerous states. The mild winter conditions have allowed their population to remain high, with New York City potentially facing millions of these insects. Eggs typically hatch from late April to June, and warmer weather is causing earlier emergence. The species likely arrived in the US via egg masses on stone shipments from China.
Read at Mail Online
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