Here’s a riddle: What’s everywhere on campus, likes trees and crunches when you stomp it? There have been more and more spotted lanternflies at the university, and they cause damage to the plants around campus. They also disrupt students’ lives.
Spotted lanternflies are an invasive species, which makes them hard to extinguish. Jean-Paul Simjouw, professor of practice and coordinator of the marine and environmental sciences program, said the insects are drawn to an invasive species of tree called the tree of heaven, which is common around campus.
“And in this case, it’s that they really like the tree of heaven, which is also an invasive species in Connecticut,” said Simjouw. “That’s their preferred target, but they also like other trees.”
The tree of heaven, itself, is invasive and resilient, said Simjouw.
Obviously, chopping down the bugs’ favorite trees could help to get rid of them, but nature can be challenging, said Simjouw.
In fact, the tree of heaven was not supposed to be in North America.
“It was introduced to Europe in 1740 for decorative purposes, as the tree was pest and disease free, and into North America by accident, where it is now considered the second most abundant non-native tree species,” researchers said in a 2021 article published in Insects, a scientific journal.
The tree has been causing problems in North America since it arrived. In fact, researchers say the increase in the lantern fly population is the tree’s fault.
Researchers say that getting rid of the tree will help to reduce the number of invasive insects that are attracted to it.
Spotted lanternflies can fly but also jump, which means students are constantly being made aware of their presence on campus. In fact, the insects can bring up strong emotions.
“Um, I hate them,” said Victoria Blair, a sophomore forensic science student. “They should all be put down. Every time I’m walking to class, they jump at me. I’m scared of them. So any time I see them or they jump at me, I run.”
The insects may be every bit as motivating as the gym, as other students say they also run.
“I haven’t done a single thing,” said Marlea Regis, a sophomore biochemistry major. “When I see them, I run; that is none of my business.”
Regis said she is not a fan of bugs.
“I don’t like those things, especially those lanternflies; they just don’t do it for me. They’re just rude, you know what I mean.”
While students around campus tend to ignore the spotted lanternfly issue, it caught the eye of one student in particular, Kyle Josefiak, and he decided that he wanted to spread awareness about the growing problem. He plans to create posters to put around campus so that more attention will be brought to the issue.
“You know, it’s a major problem that you can walk down any sidewalk on campus, even up at the football field,” said Josefiak, a sophomore forensic science major. “You can find three or four of them on any little sidewalk patch as you go across.”
He said the bugs are affecting the campus aesthetic. “It’s like everywhere you go, you see the dead, the dead bugs, they’re everywhere,” said Josefiak.
