Fighting An Insect Invasion With... An Insect Invasion

Short Wave

NPR

Daily News, Nature, Life Sciences, Astronomy, Science, News

4.7 • 6K Ratings

🗓️ 6 November 2019

⏱️ 10 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The spotted lanternfly is eating its way through trees and crops in eastern Pennsylvania. NPR science correspondent Dan Charles explains how scientists hope to stop the spread of this invasive pest by importing a natural enemy from its home in China. Follow host Maddie Sofia on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the show at [email protected].

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.
0:06.0	Maddie Sifai here with NPR Science Corp. Dan Charles.
0:08.6	Hi Dan.
0:09.6	Hi Maddie.
0:10.6	So today you brought us a story about a bug.
0:13.1	A bug?
0:14.1	Yes.
0:15.1	That was native to China.
0:16.1	It's called the spotted lantern fly.
0:18.9	Problem is it's not just in China anymore.
0:20.7	In fact, right now it is eating its way across Eastern Pennsylvania.
0:24.6	An invasive fly has shown up in our region.
0:27.1	It's called the spotted lantern fly.
0:29.4	A adult spotted lantern fly.
0:32.3	State officials say it's capable of destroying trees and crops, potentially costing millions
0:37.2	in damage.
0:38.2	There are whole Facebook groups where people trade stories about how to kill them.
0:42.9	Recently the Philadelphia police had to tell people, please do not call 911 to report these
0:48.3	bugs.
0:49.3	Basically the state is saying, if you see a bug just smash it, right?
0:52.9	Just like kill.
0:53.9	License to kill.
	...

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