Like Moths To The Flame, Twitter Can't Help But Meme NYC's Lanternfly Invasion

Something about bug invasions is meme candy to social media. After last year's much-hyped (but underwhelming) Murder Hornet Invasion, 2021 has brought us the scourge of the lanternfly, an Asian insect that has become the center of an environmental eradication campaign in the United States.

Unlike the "Murder Hornets," government officials are not suggesting that average people avoid the Lanternfly, but outright hunt it down and kill it. This is because the lanternfly feeds on the sap of over 70 different plant species, leaving them susceptible to disease, which could potentially be a setback in the fight against climate change.

Though the lanternfly has been causing problems for American environmentalists for seven years, it went viral yesterday after The New York Times covered it with the eye-catching headline, "If You See This Beautiful Insect, Please Kill It."

New York City officials are recommending that residents kill them on sight. "If you see one, squish it," said Ronnit Bendavid-Val, the director of horticulture at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. "That’s the message."

The state's Department of Agriculture is openly asking residents to perform reconnaissance duty, recommending that if citizens come across one, they should "put it in a bag and freeze it or put it in a jar with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer." Then citizens should let the department know their "street address and ZIP code, intersecting roads, landmarks, or GPS coordinates."

Twitter users were amused that yet another bug required national attention.

killed a spotted lanternfly today. was it justifiable homicide? will i be acquitted of this crime? please defend me @NYCParks i won’t do well in prison pic.twitter.com/idZ1Z0oLqX

— sara london (@sjessielondon) September 14, 2021

Woke up today with a new mission from NY for the Lanternfly pic.twitter.com/45HYt62mvk

— Nick Parker (@NickParkerGG) September 17, 2021

spotted lanternfly invasion moodboard pic.twitter.com/M2qIYXNxAg

— calvin @ if only we could fly~ limp biscuit style (@Cihbvae) September 16, 2021

Others noted that the bugs had been an issue in Philadelphia for years, reaffirming the New York/Philly rivalry.

I do feel lightly insane that the NYT is posting a photo of a lanternfly and saying “if you see this beautiful insect please kill it” and everyone is reposting when Philly’s been stomping them jawns for years. I know they’re new to New York it’s just weird to my very Philly brain

— alyssa, the Ted Lasso enjoyer, (@alyssakeiko) September 17, 2021

While it's unclear if humanity's combined efforts can stomp out the lanternfly, at least we can rest assured knowing our government wants us to go out and squish bugs.