CRAWFORD COUNTY, Ga. — A new bug has landed in Georgia and the Georgia Department of Agriculture says if you see it, kill it!
They say the native Asian flies feed on plants and trees and could weaken crops.
Experts say they've been in the United States for the last four years. The bugs' first Georgia appearance was in Fulton County, and we've heard no reports of sightings in Central Georgia.
"We weren't really getting ready for it, just waiting for it to get here," UGA Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent Jeff Cook said.
The fly with spots along its wings is known as the Spotted Lanternfly, and Cook says farmers and agricultural professionals aren't bugging out.
Cook says to combat crop issues, peach farmers specifically spray for several types of stink bugs, beetles and other more threatening bugs.
"This one should just basically fall right into getting controlled by our other pest control strategies," Cook said.
He says here in Central Georgia, most farmers shouldn't see major impacts from the spotted lanternfly.
"Maybe a one-year old orchard, if it's not being sprayed for pests to control the insects, it could be that the lanternfly gets on some of those and weakens some of those trees," he said.
Cook says this is something officials will continue to monitor. He says entomologists at the USDA and UGA are studying the flies, so if pest control strategies don't work, they will have other solutions.
Throughout the state, the lanternfly is still lighting up concerns.
Matthew Agvent with the Georgia Department of Agriculture says when the fly feeds on trees or fruits, it leaves behind damaging residue. He says you won't just find them on the farm.
"Plants leaves, to the side of your house, to furniture on your patio," Agvent said.
He says through the end of November they'll lay eggs and the adults will die during our first freeze.
"Those egg masses will survive through the winter and the larvae will emerge from there, in the spring, so we're definitely asking Georgians to be vigilant," Agvent said.
If you see one the Department of Agriculture says to follow these steps.
1. Take a picture
2. Kill it
3. Report it to the Department of Agriculture (Report Spotted Lanternfly - Georgia Invasives)
These bugs are not a threat to humans.
While this fly could harm stone fruit and hardwood trees, both men say one of the most vulnerable areas is North Georgia's grape and wine industry.