The spotted lanternfly, an invasive species first discovered in New York in 2020, is now gaining ground on Long Island, alarming residents and experts as it continues to move east, threatening backyard gardens, vineyards and larger ecosystems.
Lisa Filippi, professor of biology at Hofstra University and chair of the Friends of Hempstead Plains Education Committee, said that the insect’s eastward spread and adaptability pose major ecological concerns.
“They didn’t get as bad as researchers thought, but now (they’re) starting to move east, which was unexpected,” Filippi said. “We need to get rid of them.”…