Spotted lanternflies are back in the Washington area, and experts say you should kill any that you see.

Native to Asia, the spotted lanternfly showed up in Pennsylvania in 2014. Today, 19 states plus DC are infested to some degree, and experts say the invasive species is here to stay.

If you see a spotted lanternfly, don’t panic: they won’t sting or bite, and they will not damage your home. But, the plant-hopping insect feeds on over 70 species of trees and plants, leaving sticky honeydew that encourages mold and can harm vegetation.

Luckily, spotted lanternflies are easy to spot. According to the US Department of Agriculture, adults are about an inch long, with brown-to-gray forewings dotted in black and hind wings that flash red patches, black spots, and a white or black band. Nymphs

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