Spotted Lanternflies and Urban Heat

The spotted lanternflies invasive to the US (and Korea and Japan) have taken a big bite out of the agricultural and forestry industries. They have rapidly proliferated throughout Northeastern US after their first sighting in Pennsylvania in 2014. Our group briefly examines a possible theory behind their rapid spread to the colder northern regions: through urban centers, facilitated through less harsh conditions from the urban heat island effect. This is important to examine to find pathways for future solutions in preventing further spread of spotted lanternflies (like the cover image, a future projection of them).