Spotted Lanternflies were first reported in the U.S. in Berks Co., PA, in 2014. They have since spread. Last year, there were a few sightings in Brooklyn, the westernmost part of Long Island. I saw my first on Monday near the entrance to Bush Terminal Park.
Lycorma delicatula is a particularly large planthopper. Although associated with ailanthus, it will feed on at least 70 species, including fruits, hops, grapes, maples, and walnuts. It’s being treated as a serious threat to agricultural and forest health. Aggregations of them also make an awful mess because of the amount of honeydew they expel.
You can see the long tube-like mouthpart in this picture. I saw some of the early instar nymphs in Princeton NJ in May, and I was surprised how much larger the adult form is, a solid inch long and about half that wide. This PDF from the NYS DEC shows the instars and compares them with “look-a-likes” that don’t look really look like it. (But I guess for non-bug people….)
They’re definitely striking. I only saw this one. It was on an ailanthus sapling growing along a weedy fence. Sightings should be reported to the DEC. Egg masses should be destroyed by squashing them firmly with something like a credit card. For the adults, use what you can. A boot in this case.
Backyard and Beyond 
Been looking for them in Central Park. Glad to report no finds. Inevitable to see them eventually, I guess. What eats them?
I’m pleased to report we found none on Randall’s Island yesterday. We did find one Japanese Beetle, but it didn’t seem to be eating anything we could see.