Large global range for invasive spotted lanternfly

摘要

As the invasive spotted lanternfly wreaks havoc in the mid-Atlantic United States, scientists and a range of tree and fruit growers around the world are concerned about where the pest could show up next. A new habitat-modelling study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture may not put those minds at ease, as findings show large swaths of the globe are likely to be vulnerable should the spotted lanternfly continue to spread.Tewodros Wakie, Ph.D., research ecologist at the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), led a team in studying climate data from the spotted lanternfly's native range in Asia and areas it has invaded in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and they compared that information with climate data for other global regions to model likely suitable habitat for the insect.