Meteorologists in the DMV area have noticed signals on the weather radars that look like rain clouds — when there’s no rain in the forecast. Instead of precipitation, these signals are showing a swarm of spotted lanternflies.
The Washington Post and NBC4 Washington both reported yesterday that weather radars have been capturing a massive swarm of lanternflies in the mid-Atlantic.
Spotted lanternflies are an invasive species that have invaded the Northern Virginia area over the past several years. They feed on crops like grapes, hops, and apples and can cause significant damage to those plants.
According to The Washington Post, meteorologists use three types of data to understand that lanternflies are what’s showing up on the radar. The first, reflectivity, shows “how much stuff is in the atmosphere.” The correlation coefficient shows the shape of what’s in the atmosphere; biological signals like bugs, bats, and birds have irregular, spiky shapes on the radar. And velocity shows which way the objects are moving.
Bugs appear on the weather radar “somewhat regularly,” according to The Washington Post. Cicadas were visible on the radar during summer 2021.
Since the population is now so high in the area, management tactics have to go beyond stepping on every lanternfly you see. To help control the lanternfly population — at least from your own yard — experts suggest removing host plants such as Tree of Heaven that attract the bug and using contact or systemic insecticides. You can also search for and remove any egg masses you see on trees or outdoor furniture.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
