A spotting of the spotted lanternfly

This Sunday in Amherst, I saw my first spotted lanternfly. I wanted to share this news, because we can rally to protect our beloved ecosystem. Here are some ways I’ve found helpful to stay active about ecosystem protection: learn identifications. When you see a lanternfly, or another dangerous species, act as the planet’s immune system. Strengthen our bat population with those boxes. In other parts of the state, there are reports that bats are eating spotted lanternflies! The leading resource on the construction and maintenance of safe, healthy bat boxes is merlintuttle.org.

Report the finding. Tracking the movement of ecologically dangerous species helps the community know where to focus our actions. Apps like iNaturalist can help with plant and species identification, and large scale data collection. Learn about the problems presented by endangered species. We still have so much to learn about these aggressively overpopulating plants and animals. The essential issue I’ve gleaned, from the Sewing Solutions Permaculture Design Course in Shelburne Falls and a lecture presented by Heidi Dollard at the Kestrel Land Trust, is that these species crowd out our native ones, who are already weakened by climate change. The native species are inter-reliant: native pollinators only gather pollen from native species, and deer only eat native plants, so they really need space and resources.

Look where you want to go. We have the capacity to be the world’s greatest caregivers. Let’s cultivate that future.

Larkin Pazanova

Amherst