Why do you need to squish Spotted Lanternflies?

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Why Do You Need to Squish Spotted Lanternflies?"

Episode Release Date: June 4, 2025

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of "Who Smarted?", the dynamic hosts Trusty and Robert Maroon delve into the pressing issue of the spotted lanternfly infestation in the United States. Designed to educate and entertain young minds, the podcast combines humor with valuable scientific insights, making complex environmental topics accessible and interesting for children and their families.

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Meet the Hosts

• Trusty: The adventurous and witty host eager to tackle environmental challenges.
• Robert Maroon: A dino hunter and all-around animal expert, bringing expertise and humor to the discussion.

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The Invasion of the Spotted Lanternfly

Timestamp: [00:00 - 01:56]

The episode kicks off with Trusty and Robert in the great outdoors, actively hunting spotted lanternflies. Trusty presents a playful quiz question to the listeners:

Trusty [00:56]: "Do you know why we need to squish spotted lanternflies? Is it because A, they've been spotted committing crimes, B, they steal lanterns and fly off with them, or C, they're an invasive species? The answer is C."

Robert confirms that these insects are invading his garden, setting the stage for a deeper exploration into their impact.

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Understanding Invasive Species

Timestamp: [03:17 - 04:17]

Trusty introduces the concept of invasive species, prompting Robert to define them:

Robert Maroon [03:17]: "An invasive species is any species that's introduced into an environment it's not normally found in, where it overpopulates and harms the environment."

Trusty emphasizes the significance of this issue by highlighting how the spotted lanternfly first appeared in Pennsylvania in 2014 and became a major problem in the Northeastern USA by 2022.

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How Spotted Lanternflies Arrived in the US

Timestamp: [04:09 - 05:07]

The hosts explore the means by which these lanternflies arrived in the United States:

Robert Maroon [04:09]: "They hitchhiked by having their eggs attach to objects like people, animals, goods being shipped, or vehicles."

This accidental introduction has allowed the lanternflies to spread rapidly, causing ecological disruptions.

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Native Habitat and Natural Regulation

Timestamp: [05:26 - 07:04]

Trusty raises an important question about the lanternfly's origin:

Trusty [05:07]: "If the spotted lanternfly is an invasive species here, does that mean it's not invasive in the place that it came from?"

Robert explains that the lanternfly is native to China and parts of Vietnam, where their population is naturally controlled by parasitic wasps.

In a humorous and imaginative segment, they depict a "Parasitic Wasp Ride" to illustrate how these wasps regulate the lanternfly population:

Parasitic Wasp [07:03]: "You're in the forest of China, where the parasitic wasp lays its eggs inside the body of its host, the spotted lanternfly."

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The Damage Caused by Spotted Lanternflies

Timestamp: [11:29 - 13:04]

Post-commercial breaks, Trusty and Robert return to discuss the environmental impact:

Robert Maroon [11:29]: "The spotted lanternfly feeds on the woody parts of plants by sucking sap through tiny holes."

Trusty probes further:

Trusty [12:24]: "To what, smarty pants? To get sick, to grow too big, or to die?"

Robert underscores the severity:

Robert Maroon [12:33]: "The lanternflies are plant killers."

They elaborate on how the sugary waste left by the lanternflies fosters mold, disrupting photosynthesis and ultimately leading to the death of plants. This not only affects trees but also vital ecosystems reliant on them.

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Reproduction and Population Growth

Timestamp: [13:04 - 14:25]

The hosts highlight the rapid reproduction rate of lanternflies:

Trusty [13:04]: "When a spotted lanternfly lays its eggs, how many eggs does it typically lay? Is it A, 10 to 20, B, 30 to 50, or C, over 100?"

Trusty [13:22]: "If you said B, 30 to 50, you're right."

With each lanternfly capable of laying 30 to 50 eggs, the population can explode exponentially, posing a significant threat to various tree species, including the favored Tree of Heaven, apricot, cherry, walnut trees, and especially grapevines, which impacts northeastern US vineyards.

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Control Methods and Community Action

Timestamp: [14:25 - 17:09]

Trusty inquires about measures to control the infestation and how listeners can help:

Robert Maroon [14:35]: "Experts are suggesting removing the Tree of Heaven from our environment entirely, as it's the lanternfly's preferred host."

Other strategies include:

• Sticky Traps: Placed around tree trunks to catch nymphs before they mature.
• Egg Mass Removal: Scraping off brown egg masses and disposing of them safely.

They also encourage personal action:

Robert Maroon [16:20]: "If you see spotted lanternflies where you live, get squishing, step on as many as you can."

Trusty reassures listeners:

Robert Maroon [16:32]: "Absolutely. The Department of Agriculture encourages it."

However, he emphasizes that while lanternflies are not harmful to humans, their impact on the environment necessitates vigilant action to prevent their spread.

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Conclusion and Call to Action

As the episode wraps up, Trusty and Robert reinforce the importance of community involvement in combating the spotted lanternfly infestation. They encourage listeners to stay informed, identify the pests, and take proactive measures to protect local ecosystems.

Trusty [17:09]: "This episode, Spotted Lanternflies was written by Phil Jeremy and voiced by Jonathan Re Gear, Max Kamasky, and Jerry Colbert."

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Key Takeaways

1. Spotted Lanternflies are an invasive species originating from China and Vietnam, posing significant threats to various trees and plants in the United States.
2. Reproduction Rate: Each lanternfly can lay 30 to 50 eggs, leading to rapid population growth.
3. Environmental Impact: They damage plants by sucking sap and leaving sugary waste that fosters mold, inhibiting photosynthesis and causing plant death.
4. Control Measures: Include removing preferred host trees, using sticky traps, scraping off egg masses, and squishing the pests as encouraged by agricultural authorities.
5. Community Involvement: Essential in monitoring and controlling the spread to protect local ecosystems and agricultural interests.

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Credits

This informative episode was written by Phil Jeremy and voiced by Jonathan Re Gear, Max Kamasky, and Jerry Colbert. The technical direction and sound design were handled by Josh Hahn, with Max Kamasky serving as the associate producer. The theme song was created by Brian Squishy Suarez, with lyrics by Adam Stomps Davis. "Who Smarted?" is proudly created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Cole Colbert, under Atomic Entertainment.

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This episode of "Who Smarted?" successfully blends humor with crucial environmental education, equipping young listeners with the knowledge and motivation to engage in meaningful conversations and actions against invasive species like the spotted lanternfly.

Transcript

[Trusty]

And now it's time for Who Smarted? Psst. Hey, smarty pants. From the background sounds, you could probably tell I'm in the great outdoors. And believe it or not, I'm on the hunt.

[Robert Maroon]

There's another one. Trusty.

[Trusty]

Four o' clock. Got him.

[Robert Maroon]

Good job, mate. Oh, I see he brought a friend.

[Trusty]

That was a big one. I gotta say, this isn't easy.

[Robert Maroon]

Hey, nobody said two handsome fellas trying to eradicate an invasive species all by themselves was going to be easy.

[Trusty]

No, they did not, smarty pants. As you can also hear, I'm not alone. Joining me is my good pal, dino hunter and all around animal expert, Robert Maroon.

[Robert Maroon]

G' day, smartiest pant wearers.

[Trusty]

But this is no ordinary friendly meetup. We're actually here together to squish spotted lanternflies.

[Robert Maroon]

That's right. Like this one here.

[Trusty]

Wow. They're everywhere. And as much as I dislike the thought of squishing bugs, the spotted lanternfly is an exception. Do you know why, smarty pants? Is it because A, they've been spotted committing crimes, B, they steal lanterns and fly off with them, or C, they're an invasive species? The answer is C. See?

[Robert Maroon]

Oh, yeah. And right now, these little buggers are invading my garden.

[Trusty]

Now, smarty pants, some of you may have heard our episode on invasive species and know what that means. But for those of you who aren't sure or want a refresher course, I'm sure my buddy Robert Maroon would be happy to explain.

[Robert Maroon]

I don't know about happy. These lanternflies make quite a mess.

[Trusty]

In addition, we'll also get to the bottom of where did all these lanternflies come from? Or what do they do that's so bad? And why does everyone, including you, listening right now, need to squish them? After all, they seem pretty harmless. In fact, they're quite pretty.

[Robert Maroon]

Oh, no, no, no, Trusty. Do not be seduced by their lovely red coloring and soft spotted wings. These lanternflies are some of the worst pests I've ever seen. And I've seen some pretty hairy stuff in the land down under. Trust me, trusty, they're a real menace.

[Trusty]

Yep, and we'll find out why as we take a whiff of science. And who's smarted? Who's smarted?

[Robert Maroon]

Who's smart?

[Trusty]

Is it you? Is it me? Is it science? Or history?

[Robert Maroon]

Listen up, everyone.

[Trusty]

We make smarting lots of fun. Who's smarted?

[Elio]

It is estimated that over 4 million people have been abducted by alien life forms. But only one of them asked for it.

[Robert Maroon]

This is Elio of Earth.

[Trusty]

Any aliens are listening.

[Robert Maroon]

Come and get me.

[Elio]

From Disney and Pixar.

[Trusty]

Yes, it's really happening.

[Elio]

He'll go where no one has gone before.

[Trusty]

Welcome to the community.

[Robert Maroon]

What is this, please?

[Trusty]

These are the lava tunnels, Gordon. I am not fireproof.

[Elio]

Disney and Pixar's Elio hated pg. Parental guidance suggested only in theaters. Tickets available now.

[Trusty]

So, two quick questions, Maroon. One, what exactly is an invasive species? And two, what did you do with my lunch?

[Robert Maroon]

No, this is your lunch. Sorry, mate, I thought it was mine, which would be weird since I didn't bring any. Here you go. Now, to answer your question, an invasive species is any species that's introduced into an environment it's not normally found in, where it overpopulates and harms the environment.

[Trusty]

Yikes. So I guess that's what happened with the spotted lanternfly in the United States, huh?

[Robert Maroon]

That's right. The spotted lanternfly first arrived in the United States in 2014 and really became a big problem in most of the Northeastern USA in 2022.

[Trusty]

Smarty Pants, which U.S. state did this spotted lanternfly first appear in? Was it A, Maine, B, Pennsylvania, or C, Rhode Island? If you guessed, Pennsylvania. Good job. But, maroon, how did the lanternfly get here in the first place?

[Robert Maroon]

Why? It hitchhiked.

[Trusty]

Ha ha, very funny. How can a lanternfly hitchhike? They don't even have thumbs.

[Robert Maroon]

Come on, Trusty, you're better than that. In the animal kingdom, hitchhiking is the term used when an insect's eggs attach themselves to something which then makes its way to a new environment. It could be a person, another animal on goods being shipped, or a vehicle. The result is called an accidental introduction.

[Trusty]

Ah, of course, the eggs. I was just kidding about the thumbs. All right, all right. It was one joke.

[Robert Maroon]

Invasive species are no laughing matter. By the way, this tuna sandwich is delicious.

[Trusty]

What? That's my lunch. Give that back. Also, hold on a sec. I'm confused about something. If the spotted lanternfly is an invasive species here, does that mean it's not invasive in the place that it came from? And if that's the case, how come it causes damage here but not back home?

[Robert Maroon]

Oh, wow. Excellent questions, Trusty. And I'll happily give the answers for another bite of sandwich.

[Trusty]

Oh, fine, just have it. You already ate half of it.

[Robert Maroon]

All right, then let's talk about where these little buggers are from. Smarty pants. Any idea?

[Trusty]

I can't say that I know that. Smarty pants. Do you know the country or countries of origin for the spotted lanternfly?

[Robert Maroon]

The spotted Lanternfly is native to China and some parts of Vietnam. And the reason they don't cause harm there is because they're regulated.

[Trusty]

Regulated how? Like by people spraying them stuff?

[Robert Maroon]

Nope. They're regulated by nature.

[Trusty]

Hmm. What do you think, smarty pants? What does nature use to control this spotted lanternfly? Is it A, volcanoes, B, climate, or C, another insect?

[Robert Maroon]

The answer is C. Nature is able to control the spotted land and fly with something called a parasitic wasp.

[Trusty]

A parasitic wasp? Whoa, that sounds scary.

[Robert Maroon]

It's not for the faint of heart. I suggest you buckle up.

[Trusty]

Okay. Hey, are those my chips?

[Robert Maroon]

Yours? Mine. Does it really matter? Now buckle up.

[Trusty]

What the. Where'd these seatbelts come from?

[Parasitic Wasp]

Welcome to the parasitic wasp ride of terror. Please keep your hands inside the ride at all times as we fully immerse you into the horrifying way the parasitic wasp controls the spotted lanternfly population.

[Trusty]

Oh, boy, I love roller coasters. Although I gotta say, this drop looks pretty steep. Where are we?

[Parasitic Wasp]

Why, you're in the forest of China, where the parasitic wasp lays its eggs inside the body of its host. Or host's eggs. In this case, the spotted lanternfly.

[Trusty]

I'm sorry, what?

[Robert Maroon]

Told you it wasn't for the faint of heart. Or the thirsty.

[Trusty]

Hey, my juice box. Um, are we about to go into a dark, scary tunnel whose entrance is shaped like a spotted lanternfly?

[Parasitic Wasp]

Why, yes, you are about to go through a dark, scary tunnel entrance shaped like a spotted lanternfly.

[Trusty]

Oh, brother.

[Parasitic Wasp]

Once inside, you'll lay your eggs right onto the lanternfly.

[Robert Maroon]

Whoa.

[Parasitic Wasp]

Eventually killing it. Here we go. Congratulations, trusty. The parasitic wasp. You just laid your eggs inside your host, killing it. Thanks for helping regulate the spotted lanternfly population. Oh, and be sure to check out our gift shop.

[Robert Maroon]

So, Trusty, now you get why landenflies aren't a problem in their native habitat.

[Trusty]

I sure do. But couldn't you have just explained that without putting me on that crazy ride?

[Robert Maroon]

Sure, but then how would I have been able to borrow your apple slices?

[Trusty]

Borrow? Wow, you are too much maroon. Anyway, getting back to the other invasive species. If the spotted lanternfly is regulated by parasitic wasps in China and Vietnam, but not here in North America, what kind of damage are lanternflies causing exactly? Do you know, smarty pants?

[Robert Maroon]

Let's just say it's pretty bad, Trusty.

[Trusty]

Oh, boy. We'll find out what damage the spotted lanternfly causes right after this quick break and a word from our sponsors. Hey, parents. Trusty here with something really smart for your smarty pants. I've got nieces, nephews, and close family friends. Some homeschooled, some traditional school. And lately, there's one tool they all seem to be using. Ixl. One of my nephews was really struggling with reading comprehension. His parents tried ixl and within a couple of weeks, he was not only keeping up, he was excited to read. Then my niece, who's super into math, started exploring topics way beyond her grade level. That's the beauty of ixl. It's flexible. Kids can move at their own pace in any subject, across any grade. A friend's daughter loves the instant feedback and little rewards. It's fun, not stressful. And the parents, they love how easy it is to find the exact topic they're covering that week. IXL is organized, saves them time, and actually helps the kids feel more confident. If you're homeschooling or just want to supplement what your child is learning in traditional school, IXL is a game changer. Get 20% [e-mail] smarted for with the code smarted. That's ixl.com smarted code smarted learning that's flexible, fun, and perfect for your smarty pants. That's ixl. This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. So I'll be honest. I put off building our new website for way too long. I think part of me was waiting for the perfect moment or thought I needed to hire someone or take a design course or something. Total nonsense. Because then I tried Squarespace and yeah, I was hooked in an hour. Squarespace. Is this all in one platform that makes it ridiculously easy to bring an idea to life online? Whether you're starting a business, launching a project, or just want to finally claim your little corner of the Internet, I used it to build a clean, professional site in a weekend. No coding, no overwhelm, just drag, drop. Done. I used their blueprint AI tool to start, and it generated a smart, customized layout just from a few questions about what we do. So if you've been waiting to launch your site, this is your sign. Head to squarespace.com smarted for a free trial. And when you're ready to launch, use code smarted to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. Now back to who's smarted. Gee, thanks, Maroon. Is that you finishing up the last of my lunch?

[Robert Maroon]

No, I finished your lunch during the break. That, my friend, is the sound of the spotted lanternfly gobbling up plants. You see, the spotted lanternfly feeds on the woody parts of plants, and while they don't actually eat the leaves, flowers, or fruit they do two things that cause damage to the plant.

[Trusty]

Such as?

[Robert Maroon]

First, they suck the SAP out of the plant by piercing tiny holes in it with their mouths. But what's worse is, after they suck the SAP from the wood, the they leave behind their own waste in the form of a sugary fluid.

[Trusty]

A sugary liquid? Say, that doesn't sound so bad.

[Robert Maroon]

Trust me, this isn't like your soda pop. This sugary fluid coats the bark, leaves, or stems of trees and creates mold. And this mold inhibits the normal process of photosynthesis, causing the plant to.

[Trusty]

To what, smarty pants? To get sick, to grow too big, or to die? The answer is to die.

[Robert Maroon]

The lanternflies are plant killers.

[Trusty]

I see. But wait. Even if a lanternfly does munch the woody parts and sucks up SAP and leaves behind a destructive, sugary liquid of doom, how much damage can one lanternfly really cause?

[Robert Maroon]

Well, truthfully, one lanternfly won't cause much damage.

[Trusty]

Oh, so maybe we don't need to squish them.

[Robert Maroon]

Oh, no, we do. Because there ain't just one lanternfly. There's lots of them. Enough to cause catastrophic death and destruction to plants.

[Trusty]

But how are there so many lanternflies? Smarty pants, When a spotted lanternfly lays its eggs, how many eggs does it typically lay? Is it A, 10 to 20, B, 30 to 50, or C, over 100? If you said B 30 to 50, you're right.

[Robert Maroon]

Spotted lanternflies lay their eggs in something called an egg mass. The egg mass is brown in color and looks a bit like a clump of mud on a tree. Inside this egg mass are 30 to 50 babies. And when they grow up, they'll each lay 30 to 50 eggs at a time. And so on and so on and so on. More lanternflies means less trees, which isn't good for humans, who rely on trees to take in carbon dioxide and make oxygen.

[Trusty]

Yikes. Is there a specific type of tree the lanternfly likes to prey on?

[Robert Maroon]

There is. The spotted lanternfly's favorite meal is a tree called the Tree of Heaven.

[Trusty]

Smartypants, later, maybe you and an adult can look up Tree of Heaven to see what tree is most in danger from spotted lanternflies.

[Robert Maroon]

Right, but it doesn't stop there. They also feed on apricot trees, cherry trees, and walnut trees, to name a few. And land. And flies love grapevines. So a lot of vineyards in the northeastern US Are pretty on edge these days.

[Trusty]

I'll say. So what's being done to help curb the spotted lanternfly infestation? Is there anything the average person can do to help. How do you even spot a spotted lanternfly? Do they all look alike?

[Robert Maroon]

Relax, trusty. One question at a time. First, how do you identify a landonfly? Easy. You can spot a spotted landonfly by its spots. Hey, I thought that was funny. Spotted Landonflies have grey wings with little black spots and the underside of their wings is bright red. They also don't fly great distances. They mostly use their wings to hop around, so they're easy to catch.

[Trusty]

Smarty pants. True or false? Baby spotted lanternflies don't have wings. The answer is true.

[Robert Maroon]

Lanternfly babies, or nymphs are black with white spots and they don't develop their wings until later. They look very different from fully grown lanternflies, but they're just as much of a threat to our environment. You can look baby lanternflies up online too, so you know when you see one.

[Trusty]

Okay, so now that we know what to look for, let's put being done to control the infestation of spotted lanternflies, maybe we should import parasitic wasps.

[Robert Maroon]

No, you don't want two invasive species here. Instead, some experts are suggesting removing the Tree of Heaven from our environment entirely, since it's the lanternfly's preferred host. But there are other less dramatic measures being taken as well. A lot of places have started putting stuff, sticky traps around tree trunks to help gather as many nymphs as possible before they grow and start feasting like crazy. And remember those brown egg masses that look like mud?

[Trusty]

How could I forget?

[Robert Maroon]

Well, if you see those on a tree or vehicle or your patio furniture, experts suggest scraping them off and putting them in a plastic bag with some hand sanitiser, then throwing the bag away.

[Trusty]

Copy that. Anything else other than that, Trusty?

[Robert Maroon]

It's more back to where we started. If you see spotted landing flies where you live, get squishing, step on as many as you can.

[Trusty]

And we're sure that's the right thing to do, Robert?

[Robert Maroon]

Absolutely. The Department of Agriculture encourages it. The bottom line is the spotted land and fly is a threat to our trees and plants, and we've got to do our part to stop its spread. Remember, they're not harmful to to humans, so don't be afraid to approach them, study them, even admire them.

[Trusty]

They are pretty.

[Robert Maroon]

That's right. But don't get too attached. Just tell that spotted g' day, mate and give it a big stomp and squish. Say, what was that?

[Trusty]

My tummy. I'm pretty hungry.

[Robert Maroon]

Should have packed a lunch, mate. We got squishing to do.

[Trusty]

Oh, brother. A big shout out to Jules in Memphis, Tennessee. Who wrote to tell us? I love who Smarted because you get to learn and and discover new things. Aw, thanks, Jules. We're so glad to have you smarting with us. And we promise to do an episode on civil rights and Martin Luther King Jr. Until then, keep smarting. This episode, Spotted Lanternflies was written by Phil Jeremy and voiced by Jonathan Re Gear, Max Kamasky and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Hahn. Our associate producer is Max Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Squishy Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Stomps Davis. Who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Cole Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.