spotted lanternfly

noun

variants or less commonly spotted lantern fly

plural spotted lanternflies also spotted lantern flies

: a hemipteran insect (Lycorma delicatula) of Asia and especially China that has grayish-brown forewings with black spots and red hind wings with black spots and that has been introduced to the United States where it is considered an invasive (see invasive entry 1 sense 1a) species and agricultural pest

… 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.

—Asmaa Elkeurti

In areas of the Northeast where the colorful but invasive spotted lanternfly is emerging, killing season has arrived. The next generation of crop-destroying pest has hatched in 16 states across the northeastern U.S. The invasive bugs can wreak havoc on plants and trees and could eventually threaten the American wine industry …

—Janet Loehrke

Word History

First Known Use

2014, in the meaning defined above