Fascinating article about the effects of lanternfly infestation on local honey

[Blueandbluer]

When Life Gave Pennsylvania Spotted Lanternflies, Its Bees Made Spotted Lanternfly Honey

A smoky-sweet flavor, courtesy of an invasive species.

www.atlasobscura.com

 

[Scp682]

So the tree produces nectar, the moth eats tree nectar and extrudes it out, bees eat moth extrusion and puke it back out into honey. How nice. Where can I buy some

 

[The Snark]

Wither goest thou humanity in thy shiny car in the night? Between globalization as seen in near countless incidents like invasive Lanternflys and the industrial age we are leaving some very peculiar footprints to be read in geological strata in some distant millennium.

 

[goliathusdavid]

For our entire childhoods my mother denied my brother and I water guns. She bought a massive super soaker to shoot Lanternflies out of our maple last year. Absolutely fantastic article, and Don Shump is a hilarious guy.

So the tree produces nectar, the moth eats tree nectar and extrudes it out, bees eat moth extrusion and puke it back out into honey. How nice. Where can I buy some

Given their spread, I estimate you'll be able to get your own in Georgia within the decade!

 

[Scp682]

For our entire childhoods my mother denied my brother and I water guns. She bought a massive super soaker to shoot Lanternflies out of our maple last year. Absolutely fantastic article, and Don Shump is a hilarious guy.

Given their spread, I estimate you'll be able to get your own in Georgia within the decade!

Can't wait

 

[Postmalone35]

When Life Gave Pennsylvania Spotted Lanternflies, Its Bees Made Spotted Lanternfly Honey

A smoky-sweet flavor, courtesy of an invasive species.

www.atlasobscura.com

Interesting. Thanks for the link!

 

[Scp682]

Wither goest thou humanity in thy shiny car in the night? Between globalization as seen in near countless incidents like invasive Lanternflys and the industrial age we are leaving some very peculiar footprints to be read in geological strata in some distant millennium.

And also look at it from the evolutionary survival of the fittest point of view. Assuming we don't end the planet in a few millenia there will be super species everywhere.

 

[Introvertebrate]

I know I'm not supposed to like invasive species, but those lanternflies are kind of pretty. I wonder what it would take to keep them in captivity.

 

[goliathusdavid]

I know I'm not supposed to like invasive species, but those lanternflies are kind of pretty. I wonder what it would take to keep them in captivity.

Can't speak to care but I know it would take at least a double door containment facility that APHIS still wouldn't approve . These have the potential to do even more damage than Japanese beetles and if they made it to California, RIP the whole US wine industry.
I'll agree that they're quite pretty but they become far less so as you have to squish hundreds in the street.

 

[goliathusdavid]

My favorite story was when during the endless US election a news reporter found one and sent it out to Twitter saying "look at this pretty bug I found! Election bug!" and the entire state of Pennsylvania responded to the post with "NO, KILL IT"

 

[Edoggerson]

When Life Gave Pennsylvania Spotted Lanternflies, Its Bees Made Spotted Lanternfly Honey

A smoky-sweet flavor, courtesy of an invasive species.

www.atlasobscura.com

I live in southeast PA and this is a pressing problem for our neighbors (they're hobby entomologists with apiaries, don't get me started...) They've said their honey production has not been the same in the last couple years, and would understand it better if lanternflies are the culprits there.

 

[Blueandbluer]

(they're hobby entomologists with apiaries, don't get me started...)

Don't get you started? Why not? Your neighbors sound AWESOME.

@goliathusdavid The number of lanternflies in town last year was WILD. The WaWa at 20th and locust was literally swarmed... it looked like the whole building was crawling. Pretty as they are, and bug-friendly as I am, even I found that kind of horrific.

 

[goliathusdavid]

@goliathusdavid The number of lanternflies in town last year was WILD. The WaWa at 20th and locust was literally swarmed... it looked like the whole building was crawling. Pretty as they are, and bug-friendly as I am, even I found that kind of horrific.

Agreed, it was absolutely insane. Apparently there was a literal carpet of them outside the new CHOP building, and I know I killed at least one hundred on my block alone. But I also understand the motivation of those beasts at 20th and locust- who wouldn't want to shop at a Wawa? It's not a convenience store, it's a way of life, the lanternflies should get their share.
What I can't deal with is the way they move. Centipedes? Awesome. Slugs? Fantastic. Cockroaches? Wonderful. But the whole crawl rapidly and then jump a meter? No thank you.

 

[Blueandbluer]

Agreed, it was absolutely insane. Apparently there was a literal carpet of them outside the new CHOP building, and I know I killed at least one hundred on my block alone. But I also understand the motivation of those beasts at 20th and locust- who wouldn't want to shop at a Wawa? It's not a convenience store, it's a way of life, the lanternflies should get their share.
What I can't deal with is the way they move. Centipedes? Awesome. Slugs? Fantastic. Cockroaches? Wonderful. But the whole crawl rapidly and then jump a meter? No thank you.

I assumed it was because of the proximity to Rittenhouse Square, but maybe they just wanted a hoagie. Although now that I think about it, it’s actually a 7-11. Which is much less tempting.

 

[The Snark]

Welcome to your future, human race. Our local entomologist goes on and on about these bugs and a few hundred other varieties. Karma bugs.
They are only problematic in areas where the natural environment has been domesticated and humans have assumed the role of the principal natural predator. We don't have them around here since we have a few zillion parasitic wasps of various species. But where agriculture rules and the native forests have been destroyed, lower populations of wasps, the greater the problem.
Good luck, human race. You and all your pesticides have a whole lot of catching up to do if you are going to replace mom nature.
BTW, orb weavers are another of your best friends. Those flies don't stand a chance.

 

[Ganoderma]

Wither goest thou humanity in thy shiny car in the night? Between globalization as seen in near countless incidents like invasive Lanternflys and the industrial age we are leaving some very peculiar footprints to be read in geological strata in some distant millennium.

Remember that when we are sifting through million year old dirt and how it may very well of been a similar situation keeps science interesting and always second guessing