MONROE COUNTY, Pa. — A look around the Poconos, and you may notice something: a lack of spotted lanternflies. usually, by this point in the summer, the colorful adults make themselves known.
"They're saying the numbers are decreased about 75%, but that doesn't mean they are going away; they are here to stay," said Kristina Heaney, Monroe County Conservation District District Manager.
Kristina Heaney is the District Manager of the Monroe County Conservation District. She explains the dip in population this year has a lot to do with drought conditions along with new predators in the ecosystem.
"They have basically discovered that they can safely eat the lanternfly and over predation of the hardwoods in the area. Once they have had their fill of a particular area, they pack up and move somewhere else," said Heaney.
Experts say just because we are not seeing many of the spotted lanternflies out and about right now doesn't mean we've seen the last of them.
"Obviously, we are going to see a decrease in the next laying season, but you have to remember that each spotted lanternfly female can lay up to 5 clutches with 30 or more eggs, so there is a chance that if we don't have a significant drought period, their populations could rebound," explained Heaney.
Heaney also says many of the state's efforts to combat the spotted lanternfly have contributed to the decrease of the invasive pest.