See it, squish it, report it. That was the spotted lanternfly mantra of summers past, and the striking bugs are back this year, despite New Yorkers’ best efforts.

Native to parts of Asia, the spotted lanternfly was first seen in the United States nearly a decade ago, when it was found at a Pennsylvania landscaping company that imported stones from abroad. It arrived in New York in the summer of 2020.

Beginning in the spring, large masses of lanternfly eggs can be seen forming outside on trees and buildings, and also on cars, trains and even planes. The masses look like patches of dried mud, and the Department of Agriculture is asking the public to scrape them off surfaces before the insects have a chance to hatch.

Once they hatch, the spotted lanternfly enters its early nymph phase as tiny black insects dotted with white spots.

By this time of year, they are full adults and have developed their iconic gray and red coloring.

Why it’s important to kill lanternflies

The Department of Agriculture strongly encourages people to stomp, squash or swat lanternflies when they see them. Officials have been recruiting residents along the Eastern Seaboard to join the effort for years.

That’s because while spotted lanternflies are harmless to humans, they are an invasive species that can cause widespread economic harm, primarily by damaging plants.